Babysitter Sentenced to Life after killing a 2-year-old boy in Mississippi

CORINTH, Miss. – A Mississippi woman will spend the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a 2-year-old boy she was babysitting. 25-year-old Makallie Elizabeth Durham, of Corinth, pleaded guilty to Capital Murder and four counts of Felony Child Abuse on Friday.

Durham was officially charged in 2022 in the death of a 2-year-old boy and abusing his little sister. 

Circuit Judge Michael P. Mills, Jr. sentenced Durham to the maximum punishment of life imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for capital murder and an additional 40 years for child abuse. Durham will not be eligible for parole or any other form of release from incarceration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kyle Robins and Clay Cummings. The Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department responded to and investigated the case. Investigator Caleb Marolt was the lead investigator on the case. Investigators Heath Thomas and Lucas Wooten also participated in the investigation.

Details on the case:

On September 13th, 2022 at approximately 9:10 p.m., Deputies with the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence on CR 380 Corinth, MS in reference to a small child being unresponsive. When deputies arrived they discovered a 2-year-old male unresponsive with multiple bruises and marks on the child. The child was immediately transported by ambulance to Magnolia Regional Hospital. Investigators responded to the scene as well. 

While conducting the investigation an 11-month-old female was discovered in the residence with multiple injuries. The female child was transported to Magnolia Regional Hospital and both children were then transferred to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. 

Investigators discovered that the two children were in the care of a babysitter identified as Makallie E Durham. It was discovered that Durham had a misdemeanor warrant for the city of Corinth. She was taken into custody and transported to the Alcorn County Jail while the investigation was ongoing. 

On September 15, 2022 Investigators were notified that the 2-year-old male child had died from his injuries. The 11-month-old female is currently in stable condition.

Durham has been charged with Capital Murder for the death of a child, and Felony Child Abuse in relation to the assault of the 11-month-old female. Durham is being held in the Alcorn County Jail awaiting her initial court appearance.