Makallie E. Durham (Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office)
A 24-year-old babysitter in Mississippi will spend the rest of her life behind bars for killing a 2-year-old in her care, beating the boy to death and seriously injuring his infant sister. Circuit Judge Michael P. Mills Jr. on Friday ordered Makallie Elizabeth Durham to serve the maximum sentence of life without parole in a state correctional facility after she pleaded guilty to one count of capital murder in the child’s brutal slaying, authorities announced.
Durham also pleaded guilty to four counts of felonious child abuse in connection to the injuries inflicted on the toddler and his little sister. She was subsequently sentenced to an additional 40 years in prison, with the sentences running consecutively.
“She will not be eligible for parole or any other form of release from incarceration,” prosecutors with the First Circuit District Attorney’s Office said in a news release announcing the sentencing.
According to the indictment, the charges alleged that Durham abused the children over the course of four days, beginning on Sept. 9, 2022.
Two of the child abuse counts allege that Durham on both Sept. 9 and Sept. 12 “intentionally” caused bodily harm to the 2-year-old by striking him “in the face or head.” The remaining two abuse counts allege that Durham similarly struck the boy’s younger sister in the face or head on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12.
Durham had originally been charged with one count each of capital murder and child abuse before being indicted on the additional felonies.
As previously reported by Law&Crime, Alcorn County sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical personnel at approximately 9 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022, responded to a call regarding an unresponsive child at a residence in the 300 block of County Road in Corinth, Mississippi. The home is located about 100 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee.
Responding deputies said they discovered the 2-year-old boy unresponsive, noting that he appeared to have multiple bruises and other abrasion marks on his body. He was immediately transported by ambulance to Magnolia Regional Hospital, the agency said.
Also in the house was the boy’s 11-month-old baby sister. Authorities said she was suffering from a series of injuries that appeared to be caused by physical abuse. The girl was also transported to Magnolia Regional. Later. However, both children were later transferred to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Investigators soon discovered that Durham was babysitting the victims and she was taken into custody.
“The injuries to both children were determined to be non-accidental,” prosecutors said.
Unfortunately, on Sept. 15, 2022, the 2-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
