On May 12, 2022, 20-year-old Makaylia Jolley picked up her 2-month-old daughter Khalysie Jolley by the ankles and repeatedly slammed her onto a concrete road at North Bierdeman Road in Pearl, Mississippi, in view of multiple witnesses. Jolley then left the infant on the street and fled into a nearby wooded area, where she was apprehended by police. A bystander was found holding the injured infant when officers arrived. Khalysie was transported to Children's Hospital in critical condition and died two days later on May 14, 2022. The child suffered extensive skull fractures, brain swelling, hemorrhages to her eyes, a right elbow fracture, left thumb fracture, and brain bleeding. Her death was ruled a homicide due to blunt force injuries to her head. Makaylia Jolley pleaded guilty to capital murder on November 6, 2023, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The district attorney attributed the crime to the mother choosing drugs over her children.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Document 1 states that "Jolley picked up her 2-month-old daughter by the ankles and slammed her onto a concrete road repeatedly." Document 2 describes a woman who "had repeatedly and forcibly thrown a baby on the roadway." The child suffered "extensive skull fractures, brain swelling, abrasions, hemorrhages to her eyes, a right elbow fracture, left thumb fracture, and brain bleeding" as a result of being violently slammed onto concrete.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
While the specific terms "shaken baby" or "abusive head trauma" are not used, Document 1 describes the child suffering "extensive skull fractures, brain swelling, abrasions, hemorrhages to her eyes... and brain bleeding" from being deliberately slammed onto a concrete road. Officials ruled the death "a homicide due to blunt force injuries to her head." These injuries and mechanism clearly constitute abusive head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Both documents identify the perpetrator as the child's biological mother, Makaylia Jolley. Document 1 states she "pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to the capital murder of her daughter, Khalysie Jolley." Document 2 identifies "the mother, Makaylia Jolley" as the one who threw the baby onto the roadway.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Document 2 states Makaylia Jolley was taken into custody and "arrested and charged with attempted murder and felony child abuse," later upgraded to "capital murder and felony child abuse." Document 1 confirms she "pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to the capital murder of her daughter" and was "sentenced to life in prison without parole."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 states: "on Sept. 13, Jolley underwent a mental evaluation and was deemed competent to stand trial." While this is a legal competency evaluation, it directly references the mother's mental state. Additionally, Jolley reportedly told police "she didn't know why she did it," which may suggest mental health concerns that prompted the evaluation.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 quotes DA Bramlett's statement: "The very woman who was supposed to love and support Khalysie is the one who chose drugs over her children and caused Khalysie's death." This directly references drug use by the parent/caregiver.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text: (1) The state of Mississippi initially sought the death penalty against Jolley, which appears to have influenced her decision to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence without parole. Document 1 states: "on May 15, 2023, his office said the state of Mississippi would seek the death penalty against Jolley if the case went to trial." (2) The mother has another child, a son, who was placed with his grandmother after the incident. Document 2 notes: "Pearl Police Chief Dean Scott told WAPT-TV Jolley also has a son, who is currently in the care of his grandmother." (3) The crime was committed in public view with multiple eyewitnesses, described as a day that "bystanders and others on North Bierdeman Road in Pearl, Mississippi, will never forget." A bystander was found holding the injured infant when officers arrived.
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