After killing a 2-year-old boy in her care, beating him to death, and gravely hurting his baby sister, a 24-year-old Mississippi babysitter will serve the remainder of her life in jail.
Makallie Elizabeth Durham entered a guilty plea to one count of capital murder in connection with the child’s terrible slaying, and on Friday, Circuit Judge Michael P. Mills Jr. sentenced her to life without parole in a state correctional facility, authorities said.
In addition, Durham acknowledged four charges of felonious child abuse related to the harm he caused to the toddler and his younger sister. She was subsequently given a consecutive sentence of 40 more years in jail.
In a news release announcing the punishment, authorities from the First Circuit District Attorney’s Office said she would not be eligible for parole or any other type of release from incarceration.
According to the charges, Durham mistreated the kids for four days starting on September 9, 2022.
Durham is accused of purposefully injuring the 2-year-old by hitting him in the face or head on September 9 and 12, according to two child abuse allegations. Durham allegedly hit the boy’s younger sister in the head or face on September 11 and 12, according to the two surviving abuse allegations.
Durham was indicted for the other felonies after first being charged with capital murder and child abuse.
On September 13, 2022, at around 9 p.m., Alcorn County sheriff’s officers and emergency medical professionals responded to a complaint for an unresponsive youngster at a residence in the 300 block of County Road in Corinth, Mississippi, as previously reported by Law&Crime. From Memphis, Tennessee, the home is about 100 miles to the east.
The 2-year-old youngster was discovered unconscious by responding deputies, who also noted that he had numerous bruises and abrasion marks on his body.
The agency said he was taken by EMS right away to Magnolia Regional Hospital.
The boy’s 11-month-old baby sister was also there. According to the authorities, she had several injuries that seemed to be related to physical abuse.
Later, Magnolia Regional Hospital also received the girl. Ultimately, though, both kids were moved to Memphis, Tennessee’s Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
After detectives found out Durham was watching the victims, she was taken into custody.
Prosecutors said the injuries to both kids were found to be non-accidental.
Unfortunately, the 2-year-old boy passed away from his wounds on September 15, 2022.
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