A monster babysitter, who was seen smirking in her mugshot, will spend the rest of her life behind bars for torturing a two-year-old boy to death.
Makallie Elizabeth Durham, 25, of Iuka, pleaded guilty to capital murder and several counts of child abuse for the death of Kristian Harris, a toddler who tragically died in September 2022.
On September 13, Alcorn County deputy sheriffs and medical personnel were called to a home on County Road 380 in Corinth where they found the two-year-old unresponsive.
Authorities soon noticed marks and bruises on Kristian’s body, along with multiple injuries to his 11-month-old sister.
Both children were taken to Magnolia Regional Hospital before being transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where Kristian died two days later. The younger child was released in stable condition.
The disgraced babysitter was sentenced to life in prison on Friday by Circuit Judge Michael P. Mills, Jr. following her arrest the day Kristian died.
The First Circuit District Attorney’s Office found that ‘the injuries to both children were determined to be non-accidental.’ She was previously handed down a five-count indictment by a grand jury two months after Kristian passed.
Makallie Elizabeth Durham, 25, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the capital murder of two-year-old Kristian Harris, who died on September 15, 2022
The indictment, reviewed by Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, revealed that both children were repeatedly beaten by Makallie over the span of four days.
Kristian and his younger sister were repeatedly beaten ‘in the face or head’ by Makallie prior to his tragic death. Makallie was sentenced to 40 years for child abuse of the boy and his sibling
She was accused of hitting Kristian ‘in the face or head’ on three separate occasions – September 9, 12, and 13 of that year.
She was also accused of striking his sister ‘in the face or head’ three days in a row – from September 11 – 13, 2022.
The final count in the indictment revealed that the little boy was beaten by Makallie on September 13, which led to his death.
Kristian’s heartbroken mother, Jay Hurd, took to Facebook the day her son’s murderer was sentenced.
‘No it won’t bring you back, but she’ll never be able to hurt anyone ever again,’ Jay wrote, alongside an adorable picture of her late son.
She was accuses of hitting Kristian ‘in the face or head’ on three separate occasions – September 9, 12, and 13 of that year
Makallie will ‘not be eligible for parole or any other form of release from incarceration,’ according to the attorney’s office
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His mother added: ‘You are finally getting the justice you deserve baby although I’m human I’ll be honest, nothing will ever be enough for your life! But I did right by you son, I let God take control.
‘Your story, our story is and will always change lives forever baby boy. I love you always.’
The boy’s aunt, Tamia Chantay, also posted to Facebook to share that justice has finally been served for her nephew.
‘Today after two long years and a few months, justice was served for our sweet baby, my nephew Kristian, that was abused & murdered September 15th, 2022, justice was served for the abuse of my niece ‘Lani’ as well!
‘This will never amount to how we feel or bring you back, but get the rest you deserve “Christmas” (zaiden & yonna’s nickname for him),’ Tamia said.
Following his tragic death, his mother Jay Hurd has shared images of her late son. ‘Your story, our story is and will always change lives forever baby boy. I love you always,’ she said in a post. (Pictured: Kristian and his mother Jay)
It is unclear exactly how Makallie knew the family, but according to a post Jay shared around the time her son died, she said: ‘How could you be my friend, sis, bff?’
Following his tragic death, Jay shared images of her late son, as well as photos of his younger sister sitting by his grave, which is covered in a beautiful memorial blanket.
‘We love you big brother. Always and forever,’ Jay wrote back in October.
Makallie will ‘not be eligible for parole or any other form of release from incarceration,’ according to the attorney’s office.
She is set to remain at Alcorn County Jail until she is transferred to the Mississippi Department of Corrections to start serving her sentence.
It is unclear exactly how Makallie knew the family, but according to a post Jay shared around the time her son died, she said: ‘How could you be my friend, sis, bff?
‘When you let my kids get hurt? I would’ve never thought you would let them get hurt, but you let them get HURT beyond measure.’