The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman charged in a warrant with the death of an infant who had been in her care.
Nora Boles, 21, is facing a charge of first degree murder in the death last year of 11-month-old John William Smith.
On Sept. 5, 2016, the infant’s mother dropped the infant off with Boles, who was her child’s babysitter, on her way to work. She received communication from Boles that afternoon indicating the baby would not wake up and was only partially responsive. The mother took her child to Munroe Regional Medical Center for treatment. Staff at MRMC alerted law enforcement that due to the severity of the infant’s head injury, the probability of abuse was high. Boles’ statements to law enforcement changed several times during the investigation. The infant was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital and pronounced dead the following day. Boles later made admissions that she had become frustrated with the child and thrown him across the room, causing the fatal head injury.
This case was reviewed by a grand jury, who issued a true bill to indict Boles for first degree murder. Boles was being held in the Marion County Jail with no bond.