A Mississippi babysitter could face the death penalty for allegedly murdering a toddler and abusing his younger sister, the Daily Journal reports.
This week, a grand jury in Alcorn County voted to indict 23-year-old Makallie E. Durham with four counts of child abuse stemming from an incident in September that left a 2-year-old boy dead and an 11-month-old girl severely injured.
Before this week, Durham had already been charged with one count of capital murder and another count of felony child abuse.
Authorities allege that Durham struck the two victims intentionally on their faces or heads between September 9 and September 12. Court documents obtained by the newspaper allege that Durham beat the children over the course of multiple days.
Medics were called to a home in Corinth, Mississippi, around 9 p.m. on September 13 for a report of an unresponsive child. Deputies at the scene found the 2-year-old boy with bruising and marks on his body and he was rushed to a regional hospital, according to ABC 24.
Responders also found the 11-month-old girl and believed she had suffered multiple injuries that have not been described publicly. The girl was also transported to the regional hospital before both victims were sent to a children’s hospital about 100 miles away in Memphis, Tennessee.
Police determined that Durham was watching the children and arrested her for an outstanding warrant, according to the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office.
The young boy died two days later, prompting the capital murder charge, for which she has pleaded not guilty.
Durham faces up to life in prison or the death penalty if she is convicted.
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[Feature Photo: Makallie E. Durham/Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office]
