Police say one child died after both were found unresponsive in a home near N.C. 98.
DURHAM, N.C. — A Durham woman charged with killing one of her young children and trying to kill another did not appear in court Monday because of a medical emergency, delaying early steps in a case that began with police finding two small children unresponsive in a home last week.
The missed court appearance kept many details out of public view at a moment when the community is searching for answers. Andrea Morgan Faust, 41, faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Police have not identified the children, described their injuries, or said what evidence supports the charges. The surviving child’s condition also remained unclear as of Monday, leaving the case centered on what investigators are still working to learn and what officials have not yet said.
Durham police said officers responded shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday to a home on Chartwell Court, a short drive from N.C. 98. Officers found two small children unresponsive and had them taken to a hospital, authorities said. One child later was pronounced dead, and the other child remained under medical care as investigators opened a homicide investigation. By Friday morning, Faust had been arrested and charged, police said.
On Monday, Faust was scheduled to face a judge for the first time, a routine step where charges are read, counsel can be addressed, and future dates are set. That appearance was canceled because of a medical emergency, ABC11 reported. Officials did not describe the nature of the emergency, and it was not immediately clear whether she was treated at a hospital or seen by medical staff at the detention facility. The cancellation meant the public did not see a first hearing that often provides a first look at the pace of a case.
Police have been guarded about what happened inside the Chartwell Court home, releasing only a basic timeline and the charges. Investigators have not said whether the children’s injuries were caused by trauma, poisoning, suffocation, or another method, and they have not said when the injuries occurred relative to the 911 call. Police also have not said whether an autopsy has been completed, whether toxicology tests are pending, or how long it may take for a medical examiner to reach final conclusions.
Neighbors described a heavy law enforcement presence after officers arrived Thursday, with police vehicles lining parts of the street as investigators worked through the night. WRAL reported that officers towed an SUV parked outside the home as evidence was collected. Residents said the scene did not feel like routine police activity, and some described a sudden shift from a quiet evening to flashing lights and officers moving in and out of the property.
Charlene Montford, who said she lived next door and had known Faust for years, described the situation as a shock and said it was hard to connect the charges with the person she knew. “I could not believe it was Andrea’s house or Andrea,” Montford said. Montford said Faust loved her children and had seemed increasingly stressed after having a second child. In an ABC11 broadcast transcript, a neighbor also spoke about the family’s stress and said the children were both under age 5, with the older child dying and the younger child still awaiting an update on his condition.
Public records cited by ABC11 described Faust as a dental hygienist with experience teaching at local colleges, a background that added to the disbelief expressed by neighbors. Investigators have not publicly discussed family circumstances, including whether anyone else lived in the home, whether there were past medical issues, or whether there were prior police calls to the address. Durham Public Schools confirmed the children were not of school age, and the city has not released additional information about the family’s day-to-day situation.
In North Carolina, a first-degree murder charge typically signals prosecutors believe a killing was intentional and legally qualifies for the state’s most serious homicide count. An attempted first-degree murder charge alleges an intent to kill that did not result in death. Police did not discuss motive, and they did not say whether the case involves allegations of preplanning or a sudden event. Without a first court appearance, there also was no open-court discussion Monday about next hearing dates, legal representation, or potential conditions of release.
Police have asked anyone with information about the family or the incident to contact Durham investigators, including a corporal named in local reporting, or to use CrimeStoppers. Investigators often use the early days of a child death investigation to gather medical records, interview people who saw the children recently, review phone and digital records, and await forensic results. Police have not said which of those steps are underway in this case, but they have indicated the investigation is continuing.
For neighbors, the lack of details has left a painful gap filled mainly by what they witnessed: emergency response, a long night of police work, and then the quiet return of a street where children once played. Some residents said they are now watching for any sign of an update on the surviving child and for information that might explain how the incident unfolded. Officials have not said when they expect to provide more specifics.
As of Monday afternoon, Faust remained charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, and authorities had not announced a new time for her first court appearance. Investigators were expected to continue collecting medical and forensic findings as the case moves forward.
Author note: Last updated February 16, 2026.