He was soaking wet. When the photos were displayed, McNabb put his head down and shaded his eyes to keep from looking at them. As CrimeOnline previously reported, in October 2017, the Newton County Medical Examiners Office reported that Caliyah died from blunt force trauma to the head. Stroud and Will Levis. Father of baby found dead in woods arrested on probation violation, Man lived with bodies of dead mom, twin brother for year, police say, Dove apologizes after social media ad called racially insensitive, Large amounts of drugs, weapons, other contraband seized by Ga. correctional officers, No. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Clear skies. Any GoFundMe campaigns . She did say from the leafy material that it appeared the blanket had possibly been wrapped around the baby in the wooded area where she was found. They are going to get me. McNabb claims that not only did prosecutors fail to prove he killed his newborn, but that his own attorney was ineffective in representing him. What are you looking forward to seeing? Share with Us. McNabb. Investigators believe McNabb killed the baby, but have not stated a motive. Be Nice. She was 2-weeks-old. While pictures from the autopsy were shown in court, Caliyah's parents held their heads down and wept. She only weighed 5 pounds at birth. 3 on the Way, Judge rules in Walmarts favor in Virginia shooting lawsuit but gives former employee chance to refile, Despite permitless carry law, Florida prosecutors continue with pending cases, Rockdale County Public Schools names top graduates for 2023, ASK AMY: Survivor with PTSD tries to cope with family, An all-Black National Championship gymnastics team based in Conyers faces financial battles, prejudice with empowering photo project, Kanye West and New Wife Bianca Censori Step Out in Perplexing Ensembles. "I was standing there waiting on customers. The grand jury indicted Bell on second-degree murder, child cruelty and child deprivation charges. She was just precious," said the baby's grandfather Tim Bell. She always had bruises on her, Sorrells said of Bell. FAMILY PHOTO "They went after the people who were most vulnerable," the said. "He started hollering and talking about they are going to get me. The baby also suffered a blow so severe to her head that her skull was seriously disfigured and damaged beyond repair. McNabb caused the injuries, then in a panic, wrapped the baby in a blanket and one of his t-shirts, and put her into a Nike drawstring bag. Yall going to look crazy when you figure this out.. Sobbing, Bell explains that she had been up with the baby most of the night and had fallen asleep on the couch at 5 a.m. She always had bruises on her, Sorrells said of Bell. I have been in the woods all day.". How do you protect your children from predators? During cross-examination, Carter noted that photos displaying the blanket open around her body showed pieces of leafy material on the blanket and the body. That child was doomed the moment they left that hospital. TIMELINE : The murder of 2-week-old Caliyah McNabb 11Alive 1.09M subscribers Subscribe 762 Share 87K views 3 years ago The trial of a young couple accused of killing a 2-week-old girl, then. I didnt really have to ask many questions. He refused a public defender, according to The Covington Times. ?s body in the woods. Courtney Marie Bell, 25, and Christopher McNabb, 28, killed daughter Caliyah when she. Its unclear exactly what caused the fatal beating, but according to testimony by Bells cousin, Gerald Weatherford, both Bell and McNabb smoked meth with him on October 7, 2017, the night before Caliyah disappeared. . In January 2018, after months of investigation, authorities arrested Bell in connection with Caliyahs death. Shes facing charges of murder in the second degree, cruelty to children, and the deprivation of a minor. Two Georgia parents convicted last year of murdering their newborn, Caliyah McNabb, claim that there is no evidence tying them to the infants death. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 2023 Court TV Media LLC, part of The E.W. Baby Caliyah was found inside a bag in a wooden area not far from her parents' home. According to the friend, McNabb immediately jumped out of her car at a red light and fled to a nearby store. Caliyah's mother, Courtney Bell, gave a statement to the Sheriff's Office. Weatherford testified that her husband was out with the volunteer search party on Oct. 8 when Caliyahs body was found. Although Bell wasnt accused of physically harming the baby, by allowing Caliyah to live in a dangerou environment while doing nothing to protect her, makes her culpable of murder. Be Proactive. Assistant district attorney, Alex Stone, argued that not only did the suspects, including McNabb and the babys mother, Cortney Bell, kill their own child, but that the child was living with drug-addicted parents who were in a volatile, violent relationship. District Attorney Layla Zon grilled Hamby on her testimony, reminding her that when she initially told investigators about McNabb fleeing, she left out that she had told him to run and had opened the door for him. Nothing was found on Saturday, but on Sunday, CaliyahMcNabb's body was found wrapped in a blue cloth inside aduffel bag that had been hidden under a log in the woods. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Police say Chris McNabb allegedly beat his daughter to death with an unknown object that "seriously disfigured and damaged" her skull beyond repair. ", He said to everybody here that he didn't kill his baby, said Kathryn Wesley, who was inside the store when McNabb entered around 7 p.m. Sunday. According to court documents, the state Court of Appeals agreed in a ruling that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence that Cortney Bell, who was convicted along with her boyfriend, Christopher Michael McNabb, killed 2-week-old Caliyah McNabb. 1,237 likes. I could tell.. Low 46F. After spending four days in the hospital after birth, McNabb and Bell passed the baby off to family members multiple times. They went after the people who were most vulnerable, defense lawyer Anthony Carter told the court. "He come back up here and he started talking to me and he says, You know me? Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? larry.stanford@rockdalecitizen.com, Jury convicts Newton County couple in infant daughter's murder, ASK AMY: New mom is frustrated by her old mom, Supreme Court, done with arguments, turns to decisions, Tiny Dog Didn't Like Kids Until She Got A Baby Sister | The Dodo, JPMorgan to Acquire Failed Regional Bank First Republic, College Baseball Player Struck by Stray Bullet During Game, Bills sign RB Latavius Murray to 1-year deal, Bryce Young to enter minicamp as No. She was wearing a purple onesie that read,Stay away boys, my daddy works out, and a mens tank top had been placed over the head of little Caliyah McNabb. Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. He said at that time he ceased his investigation and called for the coroner. Cortney Bell was too busy smoking methamphetamine to protect her child, Assistant District Attorney Alex Stone said. Y'all are gonna look crazy when you realize who do it! For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Dickerson testified the bag could have possibly contained the body of 15-day-old Caliyah McNabb. It wasnt the babys mama. She also testified that McNabb and Bell were constantly fighting. The head was enlarged visually, Lora Darrisaw, a forensic pathologist, told the court. Get the Rockdale and Newton Citizen e-editions delivered directly to your email inbox every Wednesday and Sunday morning. Jurors also saw the spot in the woods where Caliyahs remains were discovered the day after she was reported missing. Cortney Bell was too busy smoking methamphetamine to protect her child, Assistant District Attorney Alex Stone said. Captain Crum with the Newton County Police Department said that along with evidence found at the crime scene, McNabb made incriminating statements when first interviewed on October 6. Were going to show you exactly how this baby was living, Alex Stone, assistant district attorney, told the court. 1. Her 5-pound body was found inside a Nike drawstring bag that had been placed under sticks, investigators said. It is going to be blunt force head trauma, said Newton County Coroner Tommy Davis said. Searchers found the bag about 900 yards from the familys home. The trial continues. Both McNabb and Bell were in a car with relatives driving to the mobile home park when they learned Caliyahs body had been found. He suggested Caliyah could have been killed before being wrapped in the blanket. Although Bell wasnt accused of physically harming the baby, allowing Caliyah to live in a dangerous environment while doing nothing to protect her, makes her culpable of murder, the prosecution said in 2018. The whole thing was a set-up, McNabb hissed, clearly upset with the verdict. On Saturday morning, the infants mother, Courtney Bell, called 911 to report that Caliyah was missing, Crum told PEOPLE previously. On Wednesday, Christopher Michael McNabb, 27, of Covington, Georgia, was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery and concealing a death, said Capt. Listen to a related episode below. I have been in the woods all day. , Hannah added, He went on and on and on just rambling I didnt do it. Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments. Fearing for her safety, Hannah told McNabb she did not recognize him. Success! McNabb then tried to hide the body with a t-shirt, blanket and a draw-string bag in the woods not far from the residence where the death took place, the warrants allege. FAMILY PHOTO 'She always had bruises' Georgia Department of Corrections records show . Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. McNabb is facing charges of aggravated battery, felony murder, malice murder, and concealing the death of another. Every Monday, find a list of upcoming events in your email inbox. A Newton County jury only took about an hour Tuesday before finding a couple guilty of murdering their infant daughter before reporting her missing the next day. RELATED: Awful Details About The Stay-At-Home Dad Who Drowned His 17-Month-Old Daughter To Get Revenge On His Wife For Divorcing Him. A jury has been seated in the case against parents Christopher Michael McNabb and Cortney Marie Bell for the murder of their 15-day-old daughter, Caliyah.. McNabb is facing charges of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, murder in the second degree, aggravated battery, first-degree cruelty to children, second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another. Detectives working the case said last year that the crime was planned. Store clerk Julie Hannah told Fox 5 Atlanta that she saw McNabb when he came into the store. The following day, Caliyah was dead. Its heartrending that that small of a child a baby only 15 days old had been so injured that it died, says Crum. Choose wisely! Rip baby girl The first witness Wednesday was Mickey Kitchens, an NCSO crime scene technician. During testimony in 2018, Bells cousin, Megan Sorrells, said Bell was being abused at home during the time Caliyah vanished. The clerk called 911 and McNabb was taken into custody without incident. As CrimeOnline previously reported, in October 2017, the Newton County Medical Examiners Office reported that Caliyah died from blunt force trauma to the head. On Fridays, upcoming weekend events are delivered to your email inbox, too. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/699RJYapDh. McNabb is now in jail on a probation violation out of Bartow County. Kitchens stated he used his knife to cut through the blanket until he saw the upper portion of an infants head. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz). The whole thing was a set-up, McNabb hissed, clearly angry with the verdict. Marshals Searching for Man Suspected of Raping Child for 2 Years, WATCH LIVE: Accused Killer Stepmom Letecia Stauch, Murder Trial Day 17, Masseur Charged With Sexually Assaulting Patron at Wifes Acupuncture Clinic, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. I have been in the woods all day,' Hannah said last year. or anything. Create a password that only you will remember. HER PARENTS DID BREAKDOWN WHEN THEY SEEN THE PICS. NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. Newly obtained surveillance video shows the father of a baby found dead in the woods after the discovery of her body. McNabb previously said his attorney did an incredible job and didnt have any plans of finding a new one. Christopher McNabb and Cortney Bell are being charged in a joint trial for the murder of their two-week-old baby Caliyah. It wasnt the babys mama, yall going to look crazy when you figure this out, McNabb reportedly said to Hannah,according to FOX 5. Error! See additional information. The McNabb home was searched and a search party canvassed a 2-mileperimeter of a woodedarea near their home. Started at Rockdale Citizen/Newton Citizen in January 2016. Alexis Stevens is a member of the Crime and Public Safety team. Invalid password or account does not exist. Ott explained to Bell that her second-degree murder charge meant that irrespective of malice, while she was in the commission of neglecting her baby, she helped caused her death. Abundant sunshine. A baby girl died after being savagely beaten by her parents, who were under the influence of crystal meth. And I looked everywhere in the house I dont know another possibility.. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. McNabb is accused of killing his 15-day-old daughter, Caliyah McNabb, before hiding her body in the woods near his family's mobile home, says Crum. nvestigators say Chris McNabb tried to hide from police after he learned volunteers found the infant? The next day, on October 6, Cortney Bell called 911 and reported the baby missing. When the operator asks her if she thinks someone took the baby, she says, My 2-year-old said shes gone. Kitchens stated that it was his job to process the scene and look for evidence, not to determine a suspect. When are the 2023 college graduation ceremonies in Georgia? Cortney Bell, 24, was arrested Saturday on a grand jury indictment for second-degree murder in the October death of her 15-day-old daughter, Caliyah McNabb, Newton County, Georgia. Ott asked McNabb what type of sentence he would give the person responsible for Caliyahs death. Dr. Lora Darrisaw, the GBI Pediatric Crime Unit director and a forensic. Sorrells said Bell never told her about the abuse, but as a domestic abuse victim herself, she could already tell. She also testified that McNabb and Bell were constantly fighting. 1.8M views 3 years ago (Note: Autopsy photos are NOT shown in this video, but there are graphic medical descriptions of an infant's autopsy. She also testified that McNabb and Bell were constantly fighting. That child was doomed the moment they left that hospital. Bell began quietly crying and laid her head on her arms on the desk to avoid seeing the photos. "He was real wet and nasty like he had been running through the woods in the rain," said Hannah. Following Hambys testimony, the jurors, along with the attorneys and Judge John Ott, went to the mobile home park to see the trailer where the family had lived. I didnt really have to ask many questions. Her parents are charged with murder. Cortney Bell and Christopher McNabb [Police Handout]McNabb, who has a long history of non-violent crimes, jumped out of a car on October 7 when he heard that Caliyahs remains had been found. Carter argued that Newton County authorities zeroed in on Christopher McNabb, the father of slain 15-day-old Caliyah McNabb, almost immediately after the babys disappearance, before her remains were found. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. The couple, who are first cousins, lived in a mobile home in Newton County, Georgia. By feeling the head, it was very soft and by feeling it you could tell there were already broken bones.. They called the police who foundno signs of forced entry or foulplay. Investigators say they'll have a better idea of where to go next with the case after the medical examiner reveals the cause of death. During testimony last week, Bells cousin, Megan Sorrells, said Bell was being abused at home during the time Caliyah vanished. On September23rd, Caliyah McNabb was born to Courtney Bell and Chris McNabb in Atlanta, Georgia. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Investigators say Chris McNabbran away and turned up at the gas station four hours later. The body was transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for autopsy and it was determined to be Caliyah McNabb. Bell's murder conviction has now been reversed. FAMILY PHOTO. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Ott told Bell that she allowed a rattlesnake into her home by putting McNabb before her children and allowing violence and drugs into her childrens lives. In October 2017, the Newton County Medical Examiners Office reported that Caliyah died from blunt force trauma to the head. The baby's body was found wrapped up in blue cloth in a hole under a log. The trial for the two began Monday. The couple, who are first cousins, lived in a mobile home in Newton County, Georgia. An autopsy determined that the infant died from blunt force trauma to the head, Newton Coroner Tommy Davis said Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. A video shown in court Tuesday offered a more detailed glimpse into what happened the morning Caliyah was reported missing. Public defender Bryan Frost, Bells attorney, questioned Hambys closeness to her nephew McNabb rather than to her own daughter. Get the latest business news delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. McNabb and Bell are being tried jointly in connection with their daughter's death by blunt force trauma to her head. Tim testified that he returned the child home with milk and clean diapers in early October, and told his daughter, Bell, to clean up her filthy trailer home. He came in and somebody said That's him. I looked at him and said That is him. I dont agree with this at all. Tim testified that he returned the child home with milk and clean diapers in early October, and told his daughter, Bell, to clean up her filthy trailer home. He then took Caliyah into the woods behind his trailer home in Covington and buried her in a depressed area under a log.