Topline: According to an arrest report, the daycare worker told police she had a headache and became frustrated before allegedly slamming the infant’s head into the floor, which led to the child’s death.
Published: January 4, 2026 8:30 am ET
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Left: Erin Sauls (via Little Rock Police Department); Right: Elijah Flowerday (via GoFundMe)
LITTLE ROCK, AR — An Arkansas woman is facing a capital murder charge after police say an infant in her care suffered fatal injuries inside an in-home daycare, a case that has sent shockwaves through families who trusted her with their children.
According to KATV, Little Rock police were called late Tuesday morning to a home at 33 Clifton Drive for a medical emergency involving an 8-month-old boy who was not breathing. The child was rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police later classified the death as a homicide.
An arrest report cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette states that the caregiver, 23-year-old Erin Sauls, told investigators she struck the infant’s head against a hardwood floor three times while changing his diaper. According to the report, Sauls said she was frustrated and had a headache at the time. Medical scans later revealed a fractured skull and multiple brain bleeds, injuries doctors said were consistent with the timing after the child had been dropped off at daycare that morning, according to the Democrat-Gazette.
Family members have identified the child as Elijah Flowerday. His grandfather, Ian Flowerday, told the Democrat-Gazette that Elijah was healthy when he was dropped off earlier that day. The arrest affidavit states that after the blows, Elijah became hot and sweaty, and Sauls gave him a bottle in hopes he would improve. When she checked on him about 15 minutes later, he was no longer breathing.
Neighbors and parents told KATV that Sauls had been running a daycare out of her home. One grandfather, John Rand, said his own grandson was inside the house at the time of the incident, a realization he called deeply unsettling. “It really hits home when, like you said, our child was there, my grandson was there,” Rand told KATV. “So, there’s no telling what he’s witnessed, what he’s seen, or what has took place with him.” Rand added that Sauls had seemed “alright” during previous pickups.
KATV reported that neighbors believed no more than five children were typically cared for in the home, though KARK later quoted a former client who said she had heard Sauls may have exceeded that limit. The parent, who spoke anonymously to KATV, said the allegations made her feel sick. “It honestly makes me nauseous to think about,” she said.
Another former client, Aliah Fulton, told KARK that Sauls had once cared for her two young sons. Fulton said frequent cancellations and a “gut feeling” led her to remove her children months before Elijah’s death. “Something was telling me literally on my car ride home to pick up my boys, like don’t go back to her,” Fulton said. Learning of the infant’s death, she described feeling betrayed and overwhelmed by thoughts of what might have happened had she not pulled her children from Sauls’ care.
Court records cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette show that Sauls pleaded innocent to the capital murder charge in Little Rock District Court and was ordered held without bond by Judge Jill Kamps. She remains in the Pulaski County jail, according to jail records. KATV reported that Sauls is expected to appear in Little Rock District Court on Jan. 13, 2026, while KARK reported a later hearing scheduled for late February.
A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Elijah’s family was launched this week to help cover expenses, according to KATV and the Democrat-Gazette. The Flowerday family said the couple has another young son.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Daycare Worker Blamed Headache, Frustration for Fatally Striking Infant’s Head Against Hardwood Floor
According to an arrest report, the daycare worker told police she had a headache and became frustrated before allegedly slamming the infant’s head into the floor, which led to the child’s death.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 4, 2026 8:30 am ET
Left: Erin Sauls (via Little Rock Police Department); Right: Elijah Flowerday (via GoFundMe)
LITTLE ROCK, AR — An Arkansas woman is facing a capital murder charge after police say an infant in her care suffered fatal injuries inside an in-home daycare, a case that has sent shockwaves through families who trusted her with their children.
According to KATV, Little Rock police were called late Tuesday morning to a home at 33 Clifton Drive for a medical emergency involving an 8-month-old boy who was not breathing. The child was rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police later classified the death as a homicide.
An arrest report cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette states that the caregiver, 23-year-old Erin Sauls, told investigators she struck the infant’s head against a hardwood floor three times while changing his diaper. According to the report, Sauls said she was frustrated and had a headache at the time. Medical scans later revealed a fractured skull and multiple brain bleeds, injuries doctors said were consistent with the timing after the child had been dropped off at daycare that morning, according to the Democrat-Gazette.
Family members have identified the child as Elijah Flowerday. His grandfather, Ian Flowerday, told the Democrat-Gazette that Elijah was healthy when he was dropped off earlier that day. The arrest affidavit states that after the blows, Elijah became hot and sweaty, and Sauls gave him a bottle in hopes he would improve. When she checked on him about 15 minutes later, he was no longer breathing.
Neighbors and parents told KATV that Sauls had been running a daycare out of her home. One grandfather, John Rand, said his own grandson was inside the house at the time of the incident, a realization he called deeply unsettling. “It really hits home when, like you said, our child was there, my grandson was there,” Rand told KATV. “So, there’s no telling what he’s witnessed, what he’s seen, or what has took place with him.” Rand added that Sauls had seemed “alright” during previous pickups.
KATV reported that neighbors believed no more than five children were typically cared for in the home, though KARK later quoted a former client who said she had heard Sauls may have exceeded that limit. The parent, who spoke anonymously to KATV, said the allegations made her feel sick. “It honestly makes me nauseous to think about,” she said.
Another former client, Aliah Fulton, told KARK that Sauls had once cared for her two young sons. Fulton said frequent cancellations and a “gut feeling” led her to remove her children months before Elijah’s death. “Something was telling me literally on my car ride home to pick up my boys, like don’t go back to her,” Fulton said. Learning of the infant’s death, she described feeling betrayed and overwhelmed by thoughts of what might have happened had she not pulled her children from Sauls’ care.
Court records cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette show that Sauls pleaded innocent to the capital murder charge in Little Rock District Court and was ordered held without bond by Judge Jill Kamps. She remains in the Pulaski County jail, according to jail records. KATV reported that Sauls is expected to appear in Little Rock District Court on Jan. 13, 2026, while KARK reported a later hearing scheduled for late February.
A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Elijah’s family was launched this week to help cover expenses, according to KATV and the Democrat-Gazette. The Flowerday family said the couple has another young son.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Daycare Worker Blamed Headache, Frustration for Fatally Striking Infant’s Head Against Hardwood Floor
According to an arrest report, the daycare worker told police she had a headache and became frustrated before allegedly slamming the infant’s head into the floor, which led to the child’s death.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 4, 2026 8:30 am ET
Left: Erin Sauls (via Little Rock Police Department); Right: Elijah Flowerday (via GoFundMe)
LITTLE ROCK, AR — An Arkansas woman is facing a capital murder charge after police say an infant in her care suffered fatal injuries inside an in-home daycare, a case that has sent shockwaves through families who trusted her with their children.
According to KATV, Little Rock police were called late Tuesday morning to a home at 33 Clifton Drive for a medical emergency involving an 8-month-old boy who was not breathing. The child was rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police later classified the death as a homicide.
An arrest report cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette states that the caregiver, 23-year-old Erin Sauls, told investigators she struck the infant’s head against a hardwood floor three times while changing his diaper. According to the report, Sauls said she was frustrated and had a headache at the time. Medical scans later revealed a fractured skull and multiple brain bleeds, injuries doctors said were consistent with the timing after the child had been dropped off at daycare that morning, according to the Democrat-Gazette.
Family members have identified the child as Elijah Flowerday. His grandfather, Ian Flowerday, told the Democrat-Gazette that Elijah was healthy when he was dropped off earlier that day. The arrest affidavit states that after the blows, Elijah became hot and sweaty, and Sauls gave him a bottle in hopes he would improve. When she checked on him about 15 minutes later, he was no longer breathing.
Neighbors and parents told KATV that Sauls had been running a daycare out of her home. One grandfather, John Rand, said his own grandson was inside the house at the time of the incident, a realization he called deeply unsettling. “It really hits home when, like you said, our child was there, my grandson was there,” Rand told KATV. “So, there’s no telling what he’s witnessed, what he’s seen, or what has took place with him.” Rand added that Sauls had seemed “alright” during previous pickups.
KATV reported that neighbors believed no more than five children were typically cared for in the home, though KARK later quoted a former client who said she had heard Sauls may have exceeded that limit. The parent, who spoke anonymously to KATV, said the allegations made her feel sick. “It honestly makes me nauseous to think about,” she said.
Another former client, Aliah Fulton, told KARK that Sauls had once cared for her two young sons. Fulton said frequent cancellations and a “gut feeling” led her to remove her children months before Elijah’s death. “Something was telling me literally on my car ride home to pick up my boys, like don’t go back to her,” Fulton said. Learning of the infant’s death, she described feeling betrayed and overwhelmed by thoughts of what might have happened had she not pulled her children from Sauls’ care.
Court records cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette show that Sauls pleaded innocent to the capital murder charge in Little Rock District Court and was ordered held without bond by Judge Jill Kamps. She remains in the Pulaski County jail, according to jail records. KATV reported that Sauls is expected to appear in Little Rock District Court on Jan. 13, 2026, while KARK reported a later hearing scheduled for late February.
A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Elijah’s family was launched this week to help cover expenses, according to KATV and the Democrat-Gazette. The Flowerday family said the couple has another young son.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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