MONTGOMERY WALLIS - 3 yo - (2010) Jackson MS

A child abuse charge could be upgraded to capital murder against a
Jackson man in the death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old child.
The child, Montgomery "Monty" Wallace, was taken to the University of
Mississippi Medical Center on June 1 with multiple injuries to the head
and body, according to Jackson police Detective Richard Stevenson. The
child later died at the hospital.UMC officials alerted authorities that it possibly
could be child abuse.The
case against Cortney Franklin, 29, was expected to be presented to a
Hinds County grand jury on Tuesday.During Franklin's preliminary hearing Monday in Hinds
County Court, Stevenson said the child's mother, Teresa Wallace, left
the child with Franklin while she went to work.Franklin initially said in an interview with police
that the child ran head first into a door and fell. He said he then
noticed the child didn't want to play.After a while, he said, he found the child
nonresponsive.But
about an hour later, Franklin changed his statement to police. "He
admitted striking him," Stevenson said.Franklin told police the blow was accidental. He said
the child was playing and ran into his elbow, Stevenson said.Stevenson said the
child had bruises all over his body."Doctors said it was no accident," according to
Stevenson.Stevenson
said tests, including one from a neuropathologist, are being done to
determine when the bruises on the child occurred. Those tests will
determine if the charge will be upgraded to capital murder.Franklin's attorney,
Sharon Gipson, said the child's mother supports Franklin's assessment."She said, if
anything, it was accidental," Stevenson said.Stevenson said Franklin called the child's mother
three times before calling 911.Gipson said her client has no prior criminal record
and also doesn't have a traffic ticket.Franklin posted a $100,000 bond Monday afternoon and
was released from the Hinds County Detention Center.Assistant District Attorney Armstrong Walters argued
for no bond.But
Gipson said Franklin has been cooperative with authorities and will show
up in court whenever needed.

A child abuse case has turned into a capital murder investigation.
The investigation now stems after the autopsy of a 3-year-old boy, indicates that he was murdered.
Hinds County coroner says Montgomery Wallis died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Authorities say his mother’s boyfriend, Cortney Franklin, is suspected of killing the boy.
A capital murder arrest warrant has been issued for him, Franklin was also initially arrested on a child abuse charge.
The boys death happened back in June, that’s when the coroners office was notified by hospital administrators.

A Jackson man accused of killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old son admitted striking the child but said he didn't do it intentionally, a police detective testified Monday.
Cortney Franklin, 30, was in Hinds County Court on Monday for a second preliminary hearing in the same case. Unlike his first preliminary hearing, though, Franklin now is facing a capital murder charge. Initially he was charged with child abuse.The charge was upgraded in September after further autopsy results were received, Jackson police Detective Eric Smith testified Monday."The child had blunt-force injuries to the head," Smith said.The child also had older abrasions and scrapes, Smith said.Smith said Franklin initially denied he did anything to the child but changed his story to say he struck the child accidentally while they were playing.The child, Montgomery "Monty" Wallis, was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center on June 1 with multiple injuries to the head and body, according to police. The child died within two days.UMC officials alerted authorities the child could have been abused.During Franklin's preliminary hearing in June, Jackson police Detective Richard Stevenson testified Monty's mother left him with Franklin while she went to work.Franklin initially told police the child ran head first into a door and fell. He said he then noticed the child didn't want to play.After a while, he said, he found the child unresponsive.Stevenson said Franklin called the child's mother three times before calling 911.Franklin was given a $100,000 bond at his first preliminary hearing, and he posted it the same day. He was re-arrested after the charge was upgraded.On Monday, Franklin's attorney, Aafram Sellers, who began representing Franklin after the charge was upgraded, argued to County Judge William Barnett that Franklin should be let out of jail on the same $100,000 bond."No facts of the case have changed," Sellers said, arguing for the $100,000 bond to be reinstated.But Assistant District Attorney Armstrong Walters said Franklin possibly now could be facing life in prison without parole or a death sentence if prosecutors decide to go that route.Barnett said he would reinstate the $100,000 bond if testimony from the first preliminary hearing mentioned the child being deceased. If not, the bond will be set at $250,000, he said.

Man Charged In 3-Year-Old's Death

Child Died In June

UPDATED: 12:35 pm CDT September 21, 2010


JACKSON, Miss. -- Jackson police have charged a man in connection with the death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old child.

On June 1, officers were called to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where 3-year-old Montgomery Wallis was being treated for head
trauma, police said. The child died on June 3 and an autopsy was completed with inconclusive results pending lab request, police said.

Jackson homicide detectives investigated the case and subsequently charged Cortney Franklin with child abuse, police said.

On Friday, Coroner Sharon Grisham Stewart ruled Wallis' death a homicide and charges against Franklin were upgraded to capital murder, police said.

At the time of the incident, Franklin was the boyfriend of Teresa Wallis and the child was in his care at the time the injuries were sustained, police said.

Sep 23, 2010

Accused child killer, Cortney Franklin also faced a judge Thursday. He is charged with capital murder in the death of 3-year-old Montgomery Wallis. The child died from head trauma. Franklin was babysitting the child for his girlfriend when the incident occurred.

Accused killer claims he struck child accidentally

5:43 AM, Nov. 23, 2010

Excerpt:

A Jackson man accused of killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old son admitted striking the child but said he didn't do it intentionally, a police detective testified Monday.

Cortney Franklin, 30, was in Hinds County Court on Monday for a second preliminary hearing in the same case. Unlike his first preliminary hearing, though, Franklin now is facing a capital murder charge. Initially he was charged with child abuse.

The charge was upgraded in September after further autopsy results were received, Jackson police Detective Eric Smith testified Monday. ...

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101123/NEWS/11230331/Accused-killer-claims-he-struck-child-accidentally?nclick_check=1