Two Indictments and Arrests in Two Separate Sussex Child Deaths

The Delaware State Police and the Delaware Department of Justice have announced the indictment and arrest of two women in Sussex County believed to be responsible for the deaths of children in two separate cases. Both were indicted by a grand jury on Monday and have been arrested.

Valorie Handy, 51 of Millsboro, was indicted Monday, July 27, 2015, on one charge of Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st Degree in the death of a 10-month old victim in her daycare in January 2015. The case has been ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday January 28, 2015 around 2:15 p.m., troopers were dispatched to Handy's Little Disciples daycare located at 28194 Layton-Davis Road after a 9-1-1 call was received from the home stating a 10 month old was unresponsive. Preliminary investigation suggests a daycare worker attempted to wake the 10 month old male from a nap, and upon doing so, observed the infant unresponsive. The young child was transported by EMS to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes where he was eventually pronounced dead.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Handy was taken into custody near her residence and presented before the Sussex County Superior Court and was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of $100,000 cash bond. (mug shot attached).

Detoshia Spence, 23, of Laurel was indicted on Monday, July 27, 2015 on the following charges: Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st degree, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 2 counts of Child Abuse 2nd, and Offensive Touching in the death of her 3-year old daughter in April.

The preliminary investigation started on Friday, April 17, 2015, at approximately 7:17 p.m., after a call was received by the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center reporting CPR in progress. The Laurel Police Department, Laurel Fire Department, and Sussex County Paramedics were dispatched to the 900 block of Daniel Street, Carvel Gardens Laurel, DE. The victim was turned over to the Division of Forensic Sciences where an autopsy was performed. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Spence turned herself in at DSP Troop 4 and then presented before Sussex County Superior Court. She was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of a $111,100.00 cash bond.

“The deaths of children at the hands of those who are supposed to be caring for them are tragic and heartbreaking cases,” Attorney General Matt Denn said. “The police and prosecutors in these two cases spent months investigating the cases and reviewing evidence, including complex medical evidence about how each of these children died. I am proud of how DOJ’s criminal prosecutors and DSP troopers in Sussex worked through these tough cases to get to these indictments.”