A Mississippi mother and her boyfriend are facing capital murder charges after the death of a toddler who authorities allege was beaten to death, WAPT-TV reports.
On Friday, 29-year-old Yolanda Hunter surrendered after a capital murder warrant was issued. Hunter’s boyfriend, 33-year-old Herman Coleman, also known as Herman Gardner, faces the same charge and is wanted by police, according to WLBT-TV.
The charges stem from the death of Hunter’s 1-year-old son, Prodigy Hunter, who was found earlier this month unresponsive at an apartment complex in Jackson. The child was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center on December 21 and died.
Coleman and Gardner also face charges of felony child abuse.
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Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said during a press conference that Coleman was near or with the child before he stopped breathing. Wade described the baby as having “a massive amount of trauma,” including bruises covering his body.
“Based on the investigation and evidence, we believe this is something that has progressed over time. It’s not a one-time event,” Wade said, according to WAPT-TV.
He added: “The officer couldn’t even look me in the face when he was describing what this child looked like. It’s very traumatizing when you see stuff like that in our city.”
Wade implied at the press conference that Hunter knew of the abuse but failed to take action.
“When you’re aware that your child is being abused — whether you are a party to it, or whether you have knowledge of it — you have a responsibility,” Wade said, according to WAPT-TV.
The state’s Department of Child Protective Services has taken custody of Hunter’s four other children.
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[Feature Photo: Prodigy Hunter/SS via WAPT-TV]
