Dorothy Hight & Seth Chandler: Alabama mom and friend charged with capital murder in her baby's death
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
OPELIKA, ALABAMA: Investigators from Opelika Police department said that a woman and her male friend, who was living with her, allegedly beat her one-year-old son to death. They have been charged with capital murder, per WTVM.
A 1-year-old died on early Tuesday, February 20, at a Lee County hospital after he was found unresponsive at his home.
Dorothy Kay Hight, 32, and 29-year-old Seth Chandler Jake Kendrick are charged with capital murder in connection to the child’s death.
What happened to the child?
Opelika police were called to the 200 block of 24th Street in Opelika on Tuesday early morning around 12.15 am where they discovered an unresponsive 13-month-old baby, identified as Ezekiel Norville by the Lee County Coroner.
Hight was the boy's mother, according to Opelika police Captain John Hester, and Kendrick was claimed to be Hight's friend who shared the house with them.
The toddler was transported to East Alabama Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead at 12.29 am.
Norville’s body has been taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery for an autopsy, police said.
Authorities said there were signs of physical abuse.
Opelika police continue investigation
Josh Hester said the child showed obvious physical injury.
"We take all homicides seriously but when it’s a kid, it is worse,’’ Hester said.
“Most of us have children, and these cases are harder to work. It takes a toll.” “They’re truly innocent and we want to do everything to get justice,’’ he added.
He also said, that the preliminary report for the autopsy could come in a couple of days while the full report may take a few weeks. No other details were added.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at tel:334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at tel:334-745-8665. Police added that tips can also be submitted through the Opelika Police mobile app and the tipster may wish to remain anonymous.
