Delaware police arrest two Sussex County women for death of two children

 Detoshia Spence and Valorie Handy were arrested in Sussex County for the deaths of two infant children. (State Police photo)

Detoshia Spence and Valorie Handy were arrested in Sussex County for the deaths of two infant children. (State Police photo)

Two Sussex County, Del. women were indicted and arrested for the deaths of children in two separate murder cases, Delaware State Police and the Delaware Department of Justice announced Thursday.

Valorie Handy, 51, of Millsboro, was indicted Monday on one charge of murder by abuse or neglect in the 1st degree for the January death of a 10-month-old boy in her daycare. The case had been ruled a homicide.

On Jan. 28 troopers were dispatched to Handy’s Little Disciples daycare on Layton-Davis Road after a 911 call was received from an individual in the home who reported an unresponsive infant.

After a preliminary investigation, Police believe a daycare worker found the infant unresponsive after attempting to wake him from a nap. He was transported to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes where he was later pronounced dead.

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Handy went into custody Wednesday near her residence, and appeared before the Sussex County Superior Court. She was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of a $100,000 cash bond.

Detoshia Spence, 23, of Laurel was indicted Monday for the April death of her 3-year-old daughter. She is charged with abuse or neglect in the 1st degree, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of child abuse and offensive touching.

On April 17 the Laurel police and fire departments and Sussex County Paramedics were dispatched to Daniel Street in Laurel for the report of a CPR already in progress. The infant did not survive. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide.

Spence turned herself into police Wednesday, and later appeared before the Sussex County Superior Court. She was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of a $111,100.00 cash bond.

In a statement Attorney General Matt Denn expressed his grief, and praised police and prosecutors for their work in the two cases.

“The deaths of children at the hands of those who are supposed to be caring for them are tragic and heartbreaking cases,” he said. “I am proud of how a team of DOJ criminal prosecutors and DSP troopers in Sussex, led by Deputy Attorney General Melanie Withers, worked through these tough cases to get to these indictments.”

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