A 25-year-old former babysitter has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to capital murder and multiple counts of child abuse, reported by Metro.co.uk. Makallie Durham, who was charged with abusing two young children in her care, caused the death of one of them.
The First Circuit District Attorney’s Office announced on December 13 that Durham had pleaded guilty to the murder of a 2-year-old boy and four counts of felonious child abuse. The judge sentenced her to life in prison with an additional 40 years without the possibility of parole.
The tragic events occurred on the night of September 13, 2022, when Alcorn County deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a call about an unresponsive child. First responders arrived at the scene to find the 2-year-old boy with multiple bruises and marks on his body, along with an 11-month-old girl. Both children were rushed to the hospital, but sadly, the boy died from his injuries on September 15. The girl was stable at the time of the incident.
During the investigation, Durham was initially taken into custody for a misdemeanor warrant. As authorities examined the situation further, they determined that Durham had repeatedly hit the boy “in the face or head” on three occasions—September 9, 12, and 13, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports. This abuse led directly to the child’s death. Additionally, Durham was found to have abused the young girl for three days during the same period.
The case has shocked the community, and Durham’s actions have been condemned as both brutal and heartless. The children’s suffering, particularly the fatal injuries inflicted on the boy, has prompted widespread outrage.
Durham will now spend the rest of her life behind bars, ensuring that she will not harm another child. The case serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of young children and the importance of safeguarding their well-being.