A 21-year-old Mississippi woman has been found guilty of murdering her two-month-old daughter by grabbing her ankles and repeatedly slamming her on concrete.
Makaylia Shaylynn Jolley, of Pearl, was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to capital murder on Monday for slamming her daughter’s body into concrete multiple times and leaving her to die on the road.
After throwing Khalysie Lashay Jolley’s away, Makaylia ran into nearby woods where she was later arrested.
The baby suffered extensive skull fractures, brain swelling, abrasions, hemorrhages to her eyes, a right elbow fracture, left thumb fracture and brain bleeding.
‘This is an unexplainable and heinous crime against an innocent child,’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett said in announcing the sentence.
Makaylia Shaylynn Jolley, of Pearl, was sentenced to life in prison for slamming her daughter, Khalysie Lashay Jolley’s body into concrete multiple times and leaving her to die on the road
The baby suffered extensive skull fractures, brain swelling, abrasions, hemorrhages to her eyes, a right elbow fracture, left thumb fracture and brain bleeding. She was taken to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital where she died two days later
After throwing Khalysie away, Makaylia ran into nearby woods where she was later taken into custody
Before being handed over to the Pearl Police Department, Makaylia was sent to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for ‘medical treatment and evaluation.’
During her evaluation interview, the now-convicted mother revealed that she did not know why she killed her daughter and the incident was an accident. Little baby Khalysie died two days later at the hospital.
Authorities said Makaylia used drugs the morning of the incident.
Bramlett praised first responder and investigators for their work on the case.
‘Those men and women will forever be affected by what they saw on May 12, 2022. The very woman who was supposed to love and support Khlaysie is the one who chose drugs over her children and caused Khlaysie’s death,’ Barmlett said.
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‘Makaylia Jolley will die in prison where she belongs for committing these crimes against her daughter.’
During her evaluation interview, the now-convicted mother revealed that she did not know why she killed her daughter
Authorities said she had used drugs the morning of the incident, but Jolley claimed the assault was an accident
‘Makaylia Jolley will die in prison where she belongs for committing these crimes against her daughter,’ said District Attorney Bubba Bramlett
Makaylia has an older son who is now under the care of his grandmother
A Rankin County grand jury indicted her on capital murder in November 2022, and in May 2023 the Madison and Rankin County District Attorney’s office declared they would seek the death penalty for Makaylia.
In order to prevent witnesses, family members and law enforcement officers from having to relive what happened on the fateful day, a plea deal was offered to the mother in October 2023.
The plea deal allowed Makaylia to plead guilty to capital murder and be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of having a trial where the state planned to seek the death penalty.
‘Law enforcement, the EMTs, the firefighters, there were innocent people. … The apartment owner witnessed it. The victim’s grandmother witnessed it. A truck driver witnessed it. A sweet lady who was going to call on a patient and just happened to be dropping by saw these terrible things,’ Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Newman said.
‘I don’t believe you can ever get those images out of your mind.’
Reportedly, Makaylia has an older son who is now under the care of his grandmother. Khalysie’s father has not made himself known in the case.
Jolley did not speak during her Monday hearing, except to answer the judge’s questions. She was in the courtroom for about 20 minutes where a yellow, jail jumpsuit.
‘It was a good resolution for the state of Mississippi, and Ms. Jolley will die in prison,’ DA Bramlett said.
