A Jefferson County, Alabama, grand jury indicted a man and woman on aggravated child abuse charges after a 3-year-old girl died from extreme abuse. The indictments were made public on Friday.

Alabama Media Group reports that Johnathon Wayne Talley, 41, and Misty Lynn Wright, 25, are accused of “willfully torture, willfully abuse, cruelly beat or otherwise willfully maltreat said child by hitting, throwing, choking, squeezing and/or slapping her, said abuse having taken place on more than one occasion.”

The victim, 3-year-old Jettie Adams, was Wright’s daughter. On August 3, 2015, police were dispatched 2350 Gurley Lane in Trafford, where they found the toddler lying unconscious on a mattress, on the front porch. She was rushed to the hospital, where she passed away.

According to court documents, Jettie was bruised all over and had a broken collar bone, two black eyes, internal kidney injuries, and vaginal bleeding.

“She was hit was such force her intestines were damaged,” Jefferson County sheriff’s Chief Deputy Randy Christian said. “And she didn’t die instantly. Likely, she was feeling ill and went out on to the porch to lie down on the mattress and stayed there all night, without any adult checking on her. It’s the saddest case I can recall.”

Witnesses came forward and said they saw Wright kick Jettie in the ribs on a different occasion because the child wouldn’t leave her alone. Another witness, a teenager, said that Talley would discipline the toddler by picking up by the throat, choking her, and throwing her.

In December 2016, both Talley and Wright were charged with capital murder. It was later reduced to aggravated child abuse on the condition that the charges would be upgraded if additional evidence was found.

Both suspects are behind bars, awaiting a trial date to be scheduled.

[Feature Photo: Family Handout]