Mother beat 9-year-old son to death in hotel room: Police

A North Carolina woman is accused of beating her 9-year-old son to death in a Fayetteville hotel last week.

According to WRAL, police responded to the Fairfield Inn and Suites around 10:30 a.m. Saturday after receiving a report from a hotel guest advising of a domestic disturbance.

In the room, officers reportedly found the victim, Zamarie Chance, unresponsive. He died a short time later at an area hospital.

Fayetteville Police Sgt. Shawn Strepay confirmed officers found the child in a room on the third floor of the hotel, the Fayetteville Observer reported.

“Medical personnel were summoned to the scene and the juvenile was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where the juvenile has since succumbed to injuries sustained during the disturbance,” he said.

Police arrested the victim’s mother, 35-year-old Crystal M. Matthews, at the hotel.

She now faces charges of first-degree murder and felony child abuse. As of Saturday night, she was being held without bond Cumberland County Detention Center, according to WNCN.

According to Strepay, authorities believe Matthews caused her son’s fatal injuries.

“The investigation thus far has revealed Matthews assaulted the victim inside of a hotel room, causing fatal blunt force trauma injuries to the victim,” he said.

[Featured image: Fayetteville Police Department]