Duo Arrested 22 Years After 4-Month-Old Child Died. But, Police Mum On Why It Took 2 Decades To Make Arrests.

A 4-month-old infant died in the care of his mom in 2000. Now, after more than two decades, she and another man face murder charges, police announced.

But officials were mum on many details, such as why now, after 22 years, they finally had enough evidence to file charges in the cold case.

On April 23, 2000, police in Opelika, Alabama, responded to an unresponsive child. Jarquavious Hughley was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

He was in the care of his mother, Tomeika Hughley, and her friend, Bobby Beaty, at the time.

A medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, but no arrests were made at the time, police said. Investigators did not say how the child died.

Decades later, police reviewed the case and a grand jury issued indictments charging Tomeika Hughley and Beaty with murder, police said. Both suspects were arrested this month.

Tomeika Hughley also faces a charge of chemical endangerment of a child from a separate case.