An Arkansas woman has been charged with murder in connection with the death of an 8-month-old baby in her care.
Erin Saulswho ran a daycare out of her home, was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 30, after officers responded to a call that a baby, later identified as Elijah Flowerday, was not breathing. The boy was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
It has since been discovered that the young man suffered “a skull fracture and multiple cerebral hemorrhages,” according to the arrest report obtained by KATV. During the investigation, Sauls, 23, told police she was “frustrated and had a headache” while changing the baby’s diaper when she hit the baby’s head “three times on the hardwood floor,” allegedly causing the child’s fatal injuries.
Sauls is currently being held without bond at the Pulaski County Detention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. His next court date is scheduled for February 27.
Aliyah Fultonwho enrolled her own two children in Sauls daycare last year, told the NBC affiliate NECK that while she thought Sauls was a “very sweet person,” she had had a bad feeling about the 23-year-old from a very early age.
“Something was literally telling me when I drove home to pick up my boys, like I’m not coming back to her,” he explained at the time.
Fulton also allegedly learned from other parents that Sauls had taken more than five children into her home at one time, which is illegal for an unlicensed daycare owner in Arkansas.
According to the daycare registration requirements found at Arkansas.govalthough the law does not require anyone caring for five or fewer children to be licensed, “if at any time care is provided to six or more children from more than one family, the law requires the provider to be licensed.”
“The caregiver’s own preschool children will be considered when determining the need for licensure or registration,” it continued. “The caregiver’s own school-aged children are not considered in determining the need for a license or registration.”
It’s unclear if she was watching any children, but Sauls’ neighbors told KATV they don’t think she had more than five children in her care at one time.
Fulton began using his services in July 2025 and decided to end their business relationship that October after Sauls canceled it several times. If convicted, she said she believes the former daycare operator should serve the rest of her life behind bars.
“In a way, I was so desperate for someone to watch my kids, and now I’m a lot more alert now that this has happened,” she added. “She doesn’t deserve to see the light of day again.”
At the beginning of this month, a GoFundMe was created to help the Flowerday family pay for funeral expenses and counseling services for their other son as they process this “unimaginable loss.” As of Saturday, January 3, the fundraiser has received more than $12,000 in donations.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Helpline for children at 1-800-422-4453.



