Photo for Headline Surfer / TOP: Darius Stephone Nichols, 20, was ordered held without bail by a circuit judge on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Orlando, Florida on felony charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the April 30, vicious beating death of his 3-month-old baby girl, named Nova, in the mother's home as shown in the locator map at 10169 Marsh Pine Circle, Orange County, Florida. BELOW: Felony charges against Darius Nichols filed with the Orange County Clerk of the Court.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 20-year-old Orange County man was ordered held without bail by a judge on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the violent beating death of his 3-month-old daughter, Nova.
Darius Stephone Nichols told Orange County Sheriff's investigators that the baby fell from the sofa and became unresponsive on April 30.
OCSO deputies said they responded to 10169 Marsh Pine Circle on that date about an unresponsive 3-month-old baby. Once they arrived at the scene, officials said they attempted to perform CPR on the baby, and she was transported to the hospital. A few hours later, she was pronounced dead.
An autopsy showed baby Nova‘s skull was fractured in numerous places, and she had several healing rib fractures from previous incidents. In her short life, baby Nova suffered horrific abuse and trauma, OCSO investigators said. "She is resting peacefully now, and our detectives will get justice for baby Nova," the law enforcement agency noted on a social media post earlier today.
An autopsy showed baby Nova‘s skull was fractured in numerous places, and she had several healing rib fractures from previous incidents. In her short life, baby Nova suffered horrific abuse and trauma, OCSO investigators said. "She is resting peacefully now, and our detectives will get justice for baby Nova," the law enforcement agency noted on a social media post earlier today.
On Tuesday, Nichols went before a judge for the first time. Given the nature of this alleged crime, Circuit Judge Vincent Falcone ordered Nichols to remain behind bars with no bond until at least his next court appearance on May 13.
It all happened at Nichols's home with the baby's mom in the Moss Park section of southeast Orange County. Paramedics arrived at the house and performed CPR on the baby, Nova, before she was transported to the hospital.
Nichols said he went to the bathroom, and when he came back, she was face down on the floor and not breathing. Nichols was not arrested that day, but an autopsy found several injuries that the medical examiner said could not have been caused by falling off the couch. These injuries included multiple skull fractures, bleeding in both eyes, and several broken ribs that were in a state of healing.
The OCSO investigators said Nova suffered "horrific abuse and trauma" in her three months of life, an ugly situation stressed by state prosecutors during Nichols' first appearance earlier today in front of the judge. What has yet to be established is what led Nichols to violently and repeatedly abuse his innocent baby girl, leading to her death.
In addition, investigators said the house had a strong smell of marijuana, and they found a backpack in the bathroom that they believe had fentanyl pills inside.
Nichols is currently on no bond at the Orange County Jail in Orlando. The Public Defender's Office is representing him.
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