PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Portsmouth woman has been arrested in connection with the May death of a 5-year-old child on Stratford Street, police announced Friday.

Detectives arrested 31-year-old Ekara Mikkia Cowles on Friday, who is currently being held at the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office, awaiting arraignment.

The Portsmouth Police Department said officers responded to the 300 block of Stratford Street on May 28 for a report of an unresponsive child. The child was taken to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

Cowles faces multiple charges, including accessory to felony homicide, accessory to malicious wounding, accessory to child neglect, accessory to cruelty to a child, accessory to failure to secure medical care for an injured child, and accessory to contributing to the d

See Full Page