Press release from Kinston Police Department:

On April 12, 2022, shortly after 11:40am, Detectives and Officers from the Kinston Police Department responded to Lenoir Memorial Hospital regarding a reported child abuse. During the investigation it was determined the 5 month old victim had sustained multiple injuries to his body. After conducting several interviews, warrants were obtained on the child’s father, Ricardo Kadin Battle age 22, for Felony Child Abuse. Battle was located and taken into custody without incident on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 and booked into the Lenoir County Jail. On Thursday, April 14, 2022, Detectives were notified the victim had died as a result of the injuries sustained. Battle was charged with 2nd Degree Murder and was served at the Lenoir County Jail. Battle received no bond for the upgraded charge.   

The Kinston Police Department is actively working this case. If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020 or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444. Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. This investigation is in the preliminary stages and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Kinston Police Department.