Mooresville mother arrested in Colorado, charged with murder in child’s fatal fentanyl overdose

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Mooresville mother has been arrested following a year-long investigation into the tragic death of her child.

Riley Tehy Wormington, 23, was taken into custody on February 18, 2025, by the U.S. Marshals Service in Denver, Colorado, after multiple arrest warrants were issued.

The investigation began on February 13, 2024, when authorities responded to a medical emergency call along Ridge Avenue in Mooresville.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the child, who was under 2 years old, could not be revived and was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity after the child ingested a lethal dose of the drug.

As detectives investigated, it was discovered that Wormington had moved out of state shortly after giving birth to a second child while the investigation was still ongoing.

The findings of the investigation led to the issuance of several arrest warrants for Wormington, including charges of second-degree murder, felony child abuse, felony possession of a Schedule II-controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges were filed after the birth of her second child, including felony child abuse and drug-related offenses.

Wormington was taken into custody in Colorado by the U.S. Marshals Service. She is currently being held there and will be transferred back to Iredell County to face the charges.