What to Know
On January 18, 2026, police in Washington D.C. responded to a call about an unresponsive child at a residence. When they arrived, they found a filthy apartment strewn with trash, with twin toddlers in a playpen. They discovered 13-month-old Mazouri Jones with no signs of life. Her unidentified twin brother lay beside her, barely alive. Investigators determined that the children’s mother, 25-year-old Valencia Duke, allegedly left them at home alone for multiple days. She now faces a murder charge.
Mazouri’s body started decaying in her playpen.
According to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, when officers arrived at Duke’s apartment in the 4700 block of Southern Avenue Southeast, they came upon a tragic scene. Amid the trash and disarray, they reportedly located Mazouri, her body already starting to decompose.
Her brother was nearby, clinging to life as emergency crews rushed him to an area hospital. Police say Mazouri’s twin brother was so starved that he reportedly tried to eat the stethoscope of the paramedic, mistaking it for food, FOX 5 reported.
He was both incredibly dehydrated and malnourished, with police reporting the young boy tried to eat the paramedic’s stethoscope, mistaking it for food. After several days in the hospital, he survived. An autopsy revealed Mazouri died from dehydration.
Duke allegedly left the children alone for a long time.
On Wednesday, @USAttyPirro announced that Valencia Duke, 25, of the District of Columbia, was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children for the January 18 death of her thirteen-month-old daughter and near death of her…
— U.S. Attorney DC (@USAO_DC) June 5, 2026
WJLA reported police claim Duke allegedly left her toddlers alone in the apartment for multiple days. Just the thought of abandoning the babies shocked neighbors.
“As far as a child passing away, it messes [with] my heart because I lost my son four years ago at 10 years old,” Demetira Fultz, who lost her own son in an accident, said. “It’s heartbreaking to hear something like that that came in this neighborhood.”
According to court documents obtained by the news outlet, police found rotting food, infant formula with bugs inside, and baggies of what appeared to be cocaine.
“What kind of mother would do that to a kid?” a neighbor said to WJLA. “Their own blood?”
Duke apparently showed no emotion when talking to the police. When investigators spoke to her, she allegedly lied about leaving her children alone. Court records show that she spent just 2 hours in the apartment with her young children over a 92-hour period.
Investigators claim she showed no emotion when they told her Mazouri passed away, WJLA reported. In addition to the twins, Duke told police she has an older child and is currently pregnant.
Commentary online casts blame on potential mental health issues and a lack of care.
The exact reason that Duke allegedly abandoned the children in the apartment remains unclear, but many people online seem to believe she might have been suffering from a mental health crisis.
“This type of mindset do not just happen over night. She been knew she didn’t give a damn about her babies! I wonder why she decided to have the twins? Oh wait I bet i know why- reproduction care is frowned on,” someone shared.
Many other people agreed that Duke appeared in need of help.
“There’s a very faint line imo between a woman who’s just given birth and mental illness. Couple that with sleep deprivation, postpartum depression and lack of support. My guess with two babies and no mention of the father. Well…,” Another person added.
According to District of Columbia law, if convicted of felony first-degree murder, Duke could spend a minimum of 30 years to life in prison.
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