Destiny Lyric Blackburn died at 9 months old in June 2025, and two family members now face second-degree murder charges.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The father of 9-month-old Destiny Lyric Blackburn is speaking publicly for the first time since his daughter’s death as prosecutors pursue murder and child abuse charges against the girl’s mother and grandmother more than a year after she died.
The public comments come as the investigation into Destiny’s death moves into court. Greensboro police arrested the child’s grandmother, Kerry Ann Blackburn, 54, on Aug. 14 and her mother, Desiree Anne Blackburn, 34, on Aug. 18. Each is charged with second-degree murder and felony negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury.
Destiny died after first responders were called to an apartment in the 5200 block of Hilltop Road on June 18, 2025. Police said officers, firefighters and Guilford County emergency medical personnel arrived at about 12:11 p.m. after a report of an unresponsive infant. They found the 9-month-old girl inside and attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The infant’s death did not lead to immediate criminal charges. Greensboro police said detectives continued investigating and later received reports from the North Carolina medical examiner’s office. Those reports became part of the evidence considered before warrants were obtained more than a year after Destiny died.
Police have not publicly released the medical examiner’s report, saying North Carolina law makes information in the report confidential for the department. Prosecutors, however, disclosed during a court proceeding that fentanyl was found in the baby’s system and presented allegations about how investigators believe she encountered the drug.
Prosecutors alleged that Desiree Blackburn consumed some fentanyl, stored the remaining amount in her bra and that Destiny later gained access to it. Prosecutors also referred to recordings from cameras inside the residence that they said showed situations involving suspected drug activity while the baby was nearby. Those claims remain allegations and have not been established at trial.
The recordings also became part of prosecutors’ description of the conditions in which Destiny was living before her death. Courtroom reporting said prosecutors described footage in which the child sometimes fell over or was covered by a blanket and alleged that apparent drug transactions occurred in the living room while she was present.
Authorities have released fewer details about the allegations against Kerry Blackburn. Police said she was arrested without incident by the department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. Prosecutors have not publicly explained the specific acts they contend make the grandmother criminally responsible for Destiny’s death.
The new charges have brought renewed attention to a loss that Destiny’s family had lived with since June 2025. Funeral records identify the child as Destiny Lyric Blackburn and show that a private memorial service was held after her death. Her father’s decision to speak publicly comes as the circumstances surrounding that death receive new scrutiny through the criminal proceedings.
Both defendants were denied pretrial release following their arrests, according to courtroom reporting. Desiree Blackburn appeared by video from a hospital during a court proceeding. Neither woman has been convicted, and the state will be required to prove the charges through the judicial process.
The case is scheduled to return to court Oct. 27. Police have not announced additional arrests, and further details from the medical examiner’s findings have not been released publicly.
Author note: Last updated August 21, 2026.