A GRANDMOTHER has been charged with murder after cops found a 20-month-old baby baked in an oven.

Carolyn Jones, 48, is accused of stabbing Royalty Marie Floyd before placing her into a heated oven in the US town of Bolivar, Mississippi.

This horrific crime happened on Monday night local time.

Police were called to the property where they discovered the little girl’s body in the warm oven.

It has not been determined if Royalty was dead before or after she was baked.

Bolivar County Sheriff Kelvin Williams said the girl’s body has been sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy.

Jones is charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Bolivar County Sheriff Kelvin Williams, Sr. said he struggled to make sense of the heinous act. “I’ve been in law enforcement a long time, 26 years almost. I’ve been from St. Louis to here and some of the most horrific scenes that I’ve seen in law enforcement involve children,” Williams said.

“Dark days such as these can only be brightened when justice is served,” he added.

Officials hope an autopsy will determine whether the baby died from her stab wounds before being placed in the oven or is she was baked alive.

Investigators said a relative found the toddler inside an oven.

“I didn’t even know nobody was living in the house. That’s what’s really hurting me and shocked me,” one neighbour said.

Under the news story that was shared on Facebook there was an outpour of shock for the innocent baby.

“It’s a baby. It’s an innocent child. She didn’t ask to be here. I mean, if they didn’t want her why keep her?” neighboUr Tomorow Williams told WLOX.

Another said: “Obviously this woman has some sort of mental illness. While it is hard to comprehend under the circumstances, I pray this woman is examined to diagnose any condition which she may have.

“Such a tragic and heartbreaking story. Rest In Peace sweet baby.”