A licensed practical nurse Tuesday was charged with felony neglect/child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury after Roanoke Rapids police in March began investigating the death of a 2-year-old child who required home health services.

Lieutenant Morgan Worrell said the abuse inflicting serious bodily injury charge does not reflect that the child sustained physical injuries from a beating, being shaken, or blunt force trauma, but reflects that the nurse, Katrina Mallory Alston, 52, was negligent in the care of the child who had a pre-existing medical condition.

The child had been brought to the hospital unresponsive in March due to unknown causes, Worrell said, and succumbed.

Mallory, according to the North Carolina Board of Nursing, received a permanent license on September 9, 2008. The license was set to expire on August 31 of next year. She had had no charges or disciplinary actions taken against her, according to board records.

In a statement, Worrell said that through investigation, probable cause was established to charge Alston, of Roanoke Rapids.

Alston posted a $5,000 secured bond and is scheduled for a district court appearance on July 24.

“The department offers its deepest condolences to the family of this child,” the police department said.