A 23-year-old mother from Denver was taken into custody by local and federal law enforcement officials this week, more than a year after authorities in North Carolina determined that her daughter had died due to fentanyl consumption.
Riley Wormington had been sought after in relation to the tragic death of her 2-year-old child since February 2024. Mooresville police in North Carolina revealed that she had evaded authorities after an investigation was initiated. However, earlier this week, a task force consisting of the U.S. Marshals Service, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Englewood Police Department successfully apprehended her near 38th and Blake Streets.
“Shortly after giving birth to a second child, Riley Tehy Wormington, 23, the mother of the deceased, moved out of state while the investigation continued,” Mooresville PD said in a statement. “The Mooresville Police Department would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the successful arrest of Wormington.”
Before the tragic loss of her child, it seems she had a connection to Colorado. Court records from Colorado indicate that she received a traffic ticket in Adams County in 2023 and another one in Arapahoe County in 2020. Additionally, an arrest warrant from 2023 in North Carolina, for failing to appear in court for a traffic ticket, lists her address as Brighton, Colorado.
It is not immediately clear what her connection to Colorado is, and officials in North Carolina have not yet responded to a request for comment on Saturday.
According to Mooresville PD, Wormington is facing active warrants for second-degree murder, felony child abuse, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia in relation to the death of her child.
After the birth of her second child, she obtained additional warrants for several serious offenses. These included felony child abuse, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Womrington is currently in custody at the Denver Downtown Detention Center. She will soon be transferred back to Iredell County, pending an extradition hearing.
Mooresville is located approximately 30 miles north of Charlotte.