A Carroll County teen is facing capital murder charges in connection with the death of a nine-month-old boy.
Tervonte Devon Alexander, 18, of Coila was charged with capital murder in the November 14 death of Sawyer Jerrell Holston, nine months.
According to Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker, Alexander was originally charged with murder, but that charge was upgraded Tuesday to capital murder when he was officially charged with felony child abuse.
Walker said a pathologist specializing in child abuse was brought in to review the autopsy, and due to his findings, Alexander’s charges were amended.
“[The specialist] found that it was not just a one-time instance [of child abuse],” Walker said. “We can prove the child has been abused over an extended period of time.”
If convicted of capital murder, according to Mississippi statute, Alexander could receive life in prison or the death penalty.
According to Walker, on the evening of November 14, deputies responded to a call in reference to an unresponsive infant at a residence located at 2824 County Road 149 in Coila.
Walker said that Alexander, who is not the baby’s father, was sitting with the child at his residence for the mother, with whom he is in a romantic relationship. Walker said he called the mother and told her the baby was unresponsive, and the mother called 911.
He said after deputies arrived at the scene, they performed CPR on the child until MedStat arrived and transported him to Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
The child was pronounced dead at 5:18 p.m. on November 14 and was taken to the Mississippi Crime Lab in Pearl for an autopsy.
Walker said Carroll County Coroner Mark Stiles contacted his office with the autopsy results on November 16.
“The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head,” Walker said. “A homicide.”
Walker said in the course of the investigation conducted by Carroll County deputies and agents with Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Alexander was developed as a suspect. He was arrested on November 16.
Walker said his department has not responded to previous calls relating to Sawyer, however, he said there have been incidents involving Alexander.
“We have had calls of domestic violence at that house dealing with the suspect, but not dealing with this child,” Walker said.
Sunday, Alexander appeared before Carroll County Justice Court Judge Jimmy Avant. Bond was denied. Alexander is being held at the Carroll-Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility in Vaiden.
Walker said the investigation continues in this case.
