Mother of Teghan Skiba formally charged with child abuse

Investigators on Thursday charged the mother of 4-year-old Teghan Skiba - who died last week after being seriously abused - with negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury.

Helen R. Reyes, 27, of 5255 Passenger Place, Raleigh, was arrested Thursday morning and taken to the Johnston County Jail. Magistrates have not yet set her bond.

According to the arrest warrant, Reyes "had first-hand knowledge that this type of abuse had occurred prior to July 5 by Jonathan Richardson." Reyes left for military training in New Mexico on July 6. Richardson is her boyfriend, who faces first-degree murder charges in the child's death.

The warrant also states that Reyes subjected her daughter to "verbal threats, intimidation, forced consumption of alcohol, severe physical beatings and assault by biting."

The three had been living in a barn behind the home of Richardson's grandparents, Wade and Helen Creech, in the Brogden community near Smithfield.

The barn where Richardson and the girl were staying had no bathroom, no running water and a single air mattress on the floor for sleeping, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said.