Makallie Durham: Mississippi babysitter indicted for capital murder of 2-year-old boy and injuring his infant sister
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI: Makallie E Durham, a Mississippi babysitter who has been charged with capital murder for allegedly murdering a 2-year-old boy, has been indicted on a slew of felony counts of criminal charges relating to the abuse and death of the boy and his younger sister who were in her care last year.
An Alcorn County grand jury has indicted the 23-year-old babysitter on four counts of child abuse over the incident in September 2022 added to one count of capital murder that left the 2-year-old dead and his 11-month-old sister severely injured, reported Law and Crime.
READ MORE
Working mother horrified after catching babysitter breastfeeding her daughter at daycare
Durham abused the children for several days
Following the abuse that took place over the course of several days from September 9 to September 12, emergency medical personnel and Alcorn County sheriff's deputies responded to a call on September 13 which informed an unresponsive child at a residence located on County Road in Corinth.
The responding officers found the 2 year-old-boy who appeared to have suffered multiple marks and bruises on his body and was determined to be unresponsive. He was rushed to Magnolia Regional Hospital by ambulance, according to authorities. Initially, the 11-month-old girl was taken to Magnolia Regional after she was found inside the house with various unidentified injuries. Both the children were later transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
What sentence might Durham face in the criminal case?
Investigators found that the girl and boy were under the care of Durham on the evening of the death. At that point, she was arrested by deputies and was found to have a misdemeanor warrant. Two days after she was taken into custody, authorities were informed that the 2-year-old succumbed to his injuries and at the time of his death on September 15, the 11-month-old girl was listed as stable. If Durham is convicted on the capital murder charge, she will face the death penalty or the maximum punishment of life behind bars. In this case, Durham is being represented by Will Bristow and Clay Nails of the office of the public defender, according to Law and Crime.