A grand jury indictment, bond ruling and pending evidence questions now define the case against Amaya Dixon.
RICHMOND, Va. — What began as a report of two injured children at a Southside apartment is now a felony murder case against a Richmond mother accused in her twin sons’ bathtub deaths.
The case against Amaya Dixon, 21, has unfolded in stages: the April 17 emergency response, the deaths of 17-month-old Ksyn and Kcye Dixon, a weeks-long police investigation, May 7 indictments and a Tuesday bond hearing that brought new details into court. Dixon is charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of child neglect. She has not been convicted, and no Richmond trial date has been reported.
The first public stage came the night Richmond police went to the 1000 block of German School Road. Officers were dispatched at about 8:39 p.m. after a report that two young children were injured. Police said officers found two 17-month-old males who had suffered apparent drowning injuries while in a bathtub. Both boys were taken to a local hospital. One died that evening, and the other later died from his injuries. The police department did not release the boys’ names in its initial advisory.
The second stage came through investigators and the grand jury. Richmond police said detectives arrested Dixon on May 7 after indictments were returned that week. The charges listed in the police advisory were two counts of felony murder and two counts of child neglect. Police did not release a motive and said a booking photo was not available at the time. The department’s Major Crimes Unit continued the investigation, leaving several basic questions unanswered in public, including the full sequence before the children were found.
The third stage came in Richmond Circuit Court, where prosecutors described evidence they said showed a longer absence than Dixon reported. Richmond Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joan Burroughs said Dixon told police she left the twins in the bathtub for four minutes to get milk. Burroughs said camera footage showed Dixon was gone about 15 minutes and returned after receiving a call from her mother. The prosecutor also said Dixon did not notify anyone before leaving the boys in the bath.
Burroughs added that Dixon’s 12-year-old brother found the twins struggling in the bathtub water. The prosecutor said Dixon’s 17-year-old brother helped the boys while the younger brother called 911. Those details, given during the bond hearing, added new witnesses and actions to the public timeline. They also suggested that the first rescue efforts inside the apartment came from relatives before police and medical crews reached the scene. Officials have not publicly released the 911 audio or any body camera footage.
The prosecution’s account included one more detail with legal weight: Burroughs said the twins were developmentally delayed and could not support their own heads. That assertion could affect how prosecutors argue risk, supervision and neglect. It also may become part of the defense response if the case reaches evidentiary hearings or trial. Authorities have not released medical examiner findings, a full autopsy summary or a detailed description of the boys’ developmental conditions, and those gaps remain part of what the public does not yet know.
Dixon’s attorney, William Smith, argued for release on bond by focusing on who Dixon was before the charges. Smith told the court she graduated from Armstrong High School, had strong family ties in South Richmond and had never been convicted of a crime. He said she was not a flight risk and was not a danger to the community. Smith called the incident “obviously unintentional,” placing the defense position in direct contrast with the felony murder counts that now drive the prosecution.
Judge Charles Maxfield granted bond but attached limits. He set Dixon’s bond at $20,000, or $5,000 for each of the four charges. He also ordered that she cannot serve as a caretaker for minors while awaiting trial. Dixon cried during the proceeding and said, “Thank you, God,” after the ruling. The bond decision means Dixon may be released under conditions, but it does not decide whether prosecutors can prove the murder and child neglect charges.
Family members gave the case a fourth public stage outside the courthouse. The boys’ grandmother said the family was thankful Dixon could mourn with relatives after missing the burial process. She said the state’s claims were accusations and described Dixon as “a loving and caring mom.” The grandmother also said the family loved the boys unconditionally. Her comments showed the emotional divide in the case: prosecutors are presenting a fatal act of neglect, while relatives are publicly defending Dixon’s character.
The court record is also affected by Dixon’s unrelated legal matters in Chesterfield County. Prosecutors said Dixon faces pending fraud and property allegations there, including larceny from a vulnerable adult. Other reported court-record summaries list allegations from December 2025 involving credit card theft, credit card fraud, grand larceny, obtaining money by false pretenses, financial exploitation and possession of stolen property with intent to sell. Those matters are not the Richmond murder charges, but they were raised as the judge considered bond.
The next stage is procedural. Richmond prosecutors and Dixon’s defense attorney are expected to address discovery, evidence, scheduling and any motions before the homicide case reaches trial. Dixon also has a separate Chesterfield court appearance expected in August on the financial allegations. For now, the Richmond case remains pending, the boys are dead and the public record rests on police statements, a prosecutor’s courtroom timeline and a bond order limiting Dixon’s contact with minors as a caretaker.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.