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Inset: Gabrielle E. Ayers (Jefferson County Jail). Background: The Arkansas home where Ayers” son died (Google Maps).
In a tragic case from Arkansas, a young mother and her boyfriend face serious charges after the death of their 2-month-old son. The couple allegedly fractured the infant’s skull and neglected to seek medical help, later attributing the fatal injuries to an alleged accident involving a car seat.
Gabrielle Elaine Ayers, 23, was arrested over the weekend. She now faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree endangerment of a minor in connection with the death of her son, Sebastian Ayers, as detailed in court documents.
The child’s father, Timothy Mark Martin, is charged with the same offenses, though authorities have yet to apprehend him.
The Pine Bluff Police Department’s probable cause affidavit reveals that officers and emergency responders were called to a home on South Louisiana Street at 7:05 a.m. on January 3, 2025, after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant. Upon arrival, paramedics were performing lifesaving procedures on Sebastian, who showed no signs of warmth.
Martin explained to officers that upon returning home, he discovered the baby was not breathing while attempting to wake Ayers and the child. The affidavit notes that during CPR, guided by a 911 dispatcher, “blood expelled from Sebastian’s left nostril.”
The child was transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Medical personnel recorded his body temperature at 88 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting investigators to request an autopsy.
Within days, authorities received information indicating the infant had been visibly injured before his death. A witness provided a photograph showing bruising on Sebastian’s face and swelling so severe that both of his eyes were shut. The injuries were believed to have occurred during the week of Christmas while the child was staying with Ayers and Martin at a relative’s home.
An autopsy later revealed the infant suffered “craniocerebral trauma,” including a skull fracture and subdural hemorrhage, along with hemorrhaging in the neck and spinal column. The medical examiner determined the injuries were “most consistent with inflicted traumatic injury” and not accidental.
Martin allegedly told investigators that he may have unintentionally injured Sebastian a few days before Christmas, but refused to seek any medical assistance for the boy.
“During the interview, Mr. Martin admitted to accidentally striking Sebastian in the face while removing him from a car seat on December 21, 2024,” the affidavit states. “He further admitted that he was intoxicated and frustrated at the time and that he deliberately refrained from seeking medical attention to avoid involvement from state authorities.”
Ayers told investigators she was aware of the incident but similarly did not seek medical care for her son.
A female witness who saw Sebastian after the injury said the baby “appeared injured” when Martin brought him into her home and that she offered to take him to a hospital, but Martin refused, saying he would seek care later. She described Martin as having a “temper” and said she gave the infant Tylenol in an attempt to ease his pain.
Authorities allege both adults knew the child was seriously injured and chose not to act, citing the failure to seek care, the severity of the injuries, and statements made during the investigation.
Ayers is currently being held in the Jefferson County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. It was not immediately clear when she was scheduled to return to court.