ONSLOW COUNTY, North Carolina --
Fourth Prosecutorial District Attorney Ernie Lee announced Thursday that he intends to declare the first-degree murder case of Mariah Woods as capital and will seek the death penalty against Adolphus Earl Kimrey II.Initially, Kimrey was charged with lesser crimes in December including concealing a death.
However, in January, he was charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
Reports suggest Kimrey used chloroform - a liquid used as a general anesthetic - to kill 3-year-old Mariah Woods before dumping her body Pender County's Shelter Creek.
READ MORE: Mother's boyfriend charged with murder in Mariah Woods' death; chloroform determined cause of death
Authorities said Mariah's mother Kristy has been shown continuous cooperation with the investigation.
No charges have been filed against her.
RELATED: Timeline of events in Mariah Woods' disappearance
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