Mississippi Mother, Her Boyfriend Charged With Capital Murder After 1-Year-Old Boy Dies from ‘Massive Amount of Trauma': Cops

A Mississippi mother and her boyfriend are facing capital murder charges after her 1-year-old son was allegedly beaten to death, according to authorities.

On Dec. 21, the toddler, Prodigy Hunter, was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Jackson, WAPT-TV reported.

He was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he died.

On Dec. 29, Hunter’s mother, 29–year-old Yolanda Hunter, surrendered to authorities after they issued a capital murder warrant, officials said. She was also charged with felony child abuse.

Her boyfriend, 33-year-old Herman Coleman, faces the same charges and was wanted by police, WAPT-TV reported.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said at a news conference covered by WAPT-TV that Coleman was near or with the child before he stopped breathing.

Wade said the baby had a “massive amount of trauma,” including bruises covering his body. He added, “Based on the investigation and evidence, we believe this is something that has progressed over time. It’s not a one-time event.”

The police chief also alleged that Hunter may have known about the abuse but failed to take action.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

“When you’re aware that your child is being abused — whether you are a party to it, or whether you have knowledge of it — you have a responsibility,” Chief Wade said, according to WAPT-TV.

Hunter’s four other children were taken into custody by the state’s Department of Child Protective Services, officials said.

“The officer couldn’t even look me in the face when he was describing what this child looked like," Wade said of the alleged abuse, adding, "It’s very traumatizing when you see stuff like that in our city.”