The 23-year-old pleaded not guilty to capital murder; prosecutors await final reports before next steps.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Pulaski County judge ordered a Little Rock woman held without bond after police said an 8-month-old boy died while in her home day care on Dec. 30. The caregiver, identified as 23-year-old Erin Sauls, faces a capital murder charge and made a first court appearance the next day.
The case centers on what investigators described as a fatal head injury inside the small residence on Clifton Drive. Detectives with the Major Crimes Division said first responders found the infant unresponsive shortly after 11 a.m., began CPR and rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Relatives identified the boy as Elijah Flowerday. Prosecutors said they are reviewing the autopsy and police file, and the court set the matter for additional hearings as soon as lab results arrive. Sauls is represented by a court-appointed attorney, according to the jail roster.
According to an arrest affidavit, Sauls told detectives she slammed the child’s head into a hardwood floor three times during a diaper change, saying she lost control because she was frustrated and had a headache. The medical examiner’s preliminary findings cited skull fractures and brain bleeding, consistent with blunt-force trauma, the report said. Police classified the death as a homicide and took Sauls into custody at police headquarters before booking her into the Pulaski County jail. Officials did not say whether any other children were in immediate danger or required medical treatment.
At the Dec. 31 hearing, a judge entered a not-guilty plea on Sauls’ behalf and denied bond after reviewing the arrest report and the severity of the allegation. Prosecutors said decisions about how to proceed—whether to seek an indictment or move forward on the filed charge—will follow once the full autopsy and forensic evaluations are complete. Arkansas law lists capital murder among offenses that can carry life without parole or the death penalty. Authorities did not discuss potential aggravating factors or whether any sentencing enhancements are under consideration.
Neighbors on Clifton Drive described a quick response as patrol cars, an ambulance and crime scene units closed off the house late Tuesday morning. One resident said officers photographed rooms and collected bedding, clothing and other items. Another said parents had routinely dropped off children there on weekdays. As of this week, the home was quiet, with a small cluster of flowers and stuffed animals near the curb. Police did not release how many children were regularly enrolled or whether the residence held a current child care license.
City and state officials have not announced any administrative actions connected to the address. The police department said it would release more details when the medical examiner finalizes reports and detectives finish interviews. Investigators are also working to determine whether any interior cameras or baby monitors recorded the incident, and whether phone or message records shed light on the timeline before the 11:14 a.m. call. The department said the investigative file will be sent to prosecutors, who will decide on final charging documents.
As of Friday, Sauls remained in the Pulaski County jail. No additional hearings were listed on the public docket, and authorities said they would provide an update when laboratory and autopsy results are complete.
Author note: Last updated January 2, 2026.