Death Investigation – Suspect Arrested
Published on October 02, 2025
Roberto E. Bryan Jr.
Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sgt. A. Caldwell, Public Information Specialist
Date: October 2, 2025 Phone: (910) 433-1487 OCA: 2025-19608
All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case, and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.
Death Investigation – Suspect Arrested
(Fayetteville, NC) – On Friday, September 5, 2025, at approximately 7:32 pm, officers with the Fayetteville Police Department were dispatched to the 3700 block of Lockerbie Court reference to a juvenile drowning.
Officers and Emergency Medical Service personnel arrived on scene located an unconscious two-year-old black female and provided life-saving measures. Emergency Medical Service personnel transported the two-year-old victim to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center where she succumbed to her injury.
Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Departments Homicide Unit arrived on scene and assumed the investigation.
The preliminary investigation revealed the residence located along the 3700 block of Lockerbie Court was being used as an unofficial daycare. The two-year-old victim was being watched at the unofficial daycare at the time of the incident.
On Thursday, October 2, 2025, Homicide Detectives arrested and charged Melissa Ortiz-Fikes (white female, 51 years of age) of Fayetteville, NC with three counts of Providing Childcare Without A License.
Melissa Ortiz-Fikes was transported to the Cumberland County Detention Center where she is being held under a $500.00 secured bond.
This is an active investigation. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
Anyone with information regarding this homicide investigation is asked to contact Detective C. Cross at (472) 210-2381.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crime Stoppers by calling (910) 483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet, or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty
122nd CALEA Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
467 Hay Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Visit us at https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/City-Departments/Police-Department
& http://www.facebook.com/fayetteville.police
The City of Fayetteville, North Carolina does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, national origin, religion, or disability in its employment opportunities, programs, services, or activities.