BLOUNT COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) -- A mother was sentenced to 25 years in prison for felony murder in the death of her 18-month-old son.
On June 8, Samantha McCormack pled guilty to felony murder during the course of child abuse, according to District Attorney Pamela Casey.
In Sept. of 2020, McCormack and Robert Elmore Jr., 29, were arrested after McCormack’s son, Enzo, died in the hospital. According to law enforcement, McCormack stopped at the Locust Fork Hardware store with Enzo lying unresponsive in the car. It was later determined that the child had suffered a brain injury, possibly as the result of being shaken.
Elmore Jr. was convicted of capital murder in the death of Enzo and sentenced to life without parole on Oct. 9, 2023. Dr. Michael Taylor testified that he examined Enzo and determined that he suffered blunt force trauma and severe acceleration and deceleration injuries from being violently shaken. The child remained on a ventilator until Sept. 9, 2019, when doctors determined he had no measurable brain activity and no further measures could be taken.
According to Dr. Valerie Green, the child had multiple contusions on his scalp, indicating the child had experienced at least two points of impact on his head. Elmore Jr.'s telephone records were also used as evidence. Telephone records show that Elmore sent a message to the mother on Sept. 6 stating that Enzo "ain't breathing rite...he is limp...and almost blue."
Court documents state that custody was taken from McCormack in October 2018. McCormack also filed for an order of protection against Elmore in March of 2019. McCormack regained custody of the children again in June of 2019, according to court documents.