ABERDEEN, MD—A Harford County mother is in police custody after being charged in the death of her 5 ½-month-old baby girl.

​On Sunday, December 29, 2024, detectives with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division responded to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center after receiving a report from Child Protective Services of suspected child abuse.

Upon meeting with medical staff, authorities learned that the baby had been brought to the hospital by ambulance with multiple skull fractures, brain bleeds, a fractured leg, and numerous other life-threatening injuries.

​Detectives launched an investigation into the injuries sustained by the baby. A court-ordered search of the child’s home, located in the 200-block of Mayberry Drive in Aberdeen, was conducted by detectives and investigators from the Forensic Services Unit.

During the investigation, detectives developed information that indicated that the mother, identified as Maya Dennis, 32, had sole care and custody of the child when the injuries were inflicted. As detectives continued searching for answers, the infant girl died from her injuries on Tuesday, December 31st.

Dennis has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse after making statements indicating she was responsible for the now fatal injuries.

​Dennis was arrested without incident at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and has been transported to the Harford County Detention Center where she is being held awaiting her initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.

​Anyone with additional information about this crime is asked to call Detective K. Smith at 443-409-3576.