CORINTH, Miss. – A Mississippi woman has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a 2-year-old boy she was babysitting and abusing his younger sister. Makallie Elizabeth Durham, 25, of Corinth, pleaded guilty to Capital Murder and four counts of Felony Child Abuse on Friday.
Circuit Judge Michael P. Mills, Jr. handed down the maximum sentence: life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder charge and an additional 40 years for child abuse. Durham will serve her sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The charges stemmed from a tragic incident in September 2022 when Durham, who was babysitting the children, caused severe harm to the 2-year-old boy. On September 13, 2022, deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a home in Corinth after reports of an unresponsive child. The boy was found with multiple bruises and marks, and despite efforts to save him, he died from his injuries two days later. An 11-month-old girl was also found injured at the scene but is now in stable condition.
Investigators determined that Durham was responsible for the abuse. The case was investigated by the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department, with Investigator Caleb Marolt leading the investigation.
Durham was arrested and charged with Capital Murder and Felony Child Abuse for her actions against both children. She has been held in the Alcorn County Jail since her arrest.