Alabama man who punched pregnant wife's stomach so hard that it killed newborn son could face death penalty
PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA: A father who allegedly killed his newborn son by punching his pregnant wife could face the death sentence. Christopher Lamar Chase Hundley has been charged with reckless murder after his 38-day-old son Adriel Joseph Quinn Hundley died on August 11. Chief Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson as reported by Montgomery Advertiser said that the infant died from injuries he sustained while in his mother's womb. According to Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson, Christopher had some altercation with his heavily pregnant wife on July 4 and in a rage he allegedly punched her hard on the stomach. Though the child was delivered, he required life support and was later shifted to a Birmingham hospital where he died on August 11.
After Adriel’s birth, the accused also reportedly started a GoFundMe page where he requested for donations to "help our family." "...Our son was born July 4th 2020 a month early and he was born not breathing he was without oxygen for 15 mins and he is fighting for his little life," the message on the page read as he added "it has been really really hard on me and his momma," referring to his son as “our heart and soul." However, the fundraising page has now been taken down.
According to Alabama state law, capital murder charges can be brought in cases where the victim's age is less than 12 years. After found guilty, the convicted can either get life sentence without parole or the death penalty. "Capital murder charges are definitely on the table. We will go where the evidence takes us. We will go where the evidence takes us. As the investigation continues we will be preparing the case for presentation to a future session of the Autauga County Grand Jury. Upgraded charges could very well come out of the grand jury, if the investigation supports a capital element,” Robinson said. Currently, Christopher has been held in the Autauga Metro Jail on a bond of $250,000.
Meanwhile, the baby’s mother, Stephanie Hundley, as according to a GoFundM page has urged people to donate so that she gets some help with “the medicinal bills, and funeral expenses”. The description of the page created on August 19 read: “My name is Stephanie Hundley, and I am the mother of little Adriel Joseph Quinn Hundley, he was born July 4th of 2020, and passed on August 11th, 2020. He was born a little over a month before he was actually due, because of complications in the womb. He was taken via an emergency cesarean section, hoping to save him from any distress in his comfort home inside me. Though, sadly, it was found that my little boy had been without oxygen for more than 15 mins.”
The message added: “He was quickly put on life support to keep his vitals from dropping to life threatening. The first time I was able to hold my sweet child was with so many wires and tubes attached to him, I couldn’t keep the tears out of my eyes. While I was so thankful to so many of those wires and tubes, I couldn’t help but feel so helpless as I couldn’t do anything to help my child. My baby’s body couldn’t take so much, and gave out on August 11th of 2020. Due to all of the time I spent with my sweet little angel, I have been placed on limited hours atwork. I am asking for help with the medicinal bills, and funeral expenses. Anything will help as I grieve for the loss of my child that I agonize over.”