GEMMA LaSHAE MOORE - 11 Months - Guntersville AL

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala.—

The Albertville teenager arrested for aggravated child abuse faces murder charges after the infant's death.

Immanuel Gage Allen was arrested Wednesday, his 17th birthday, for the abuse of 11-month-old Gemma LaShae Moore.

Moore died Thursday night at Huntsville Hospital.

Allen is not her father.

He is charged as an adult with capital murder, the killing of a child under 14, though he cannot be sentenced to capital punishment.

"We cannot execute juveniles, but it remains capital [murder] so that the punishment is the maximum it can be, which is life without parole," district attorney Steve Marshall said.

"Based on his age he isn't death eligible."

Deputies also arrested Moore's mother, 24-year-old Bridgette Duncan, for aggravated child abuse.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, a judge reduced her bond from $2 million to $10,000.

"One of the aspects of law enforcement is to make sure that not only you charge those who have engaged in criminal conduct, but also to make sure that if somebody shouldn't be charged, that we develop those facts as well," Marshall said.

Duncan posted bond Sunday afternoon.

Judge Tim Riley revoked Allen's $2 million bond as he upgraded the charges against the suspect.


Marshall County Sheriff Scott Walls said autopsy results show Moore died of as a result of blunt force trauma, not injuries from Shaken Baby Syndrome as was first believed.

Duncan remains charged with aggravated child abuse, but the district attorney has not filed any additional charges after the child's death.

"We feel comfortable based on the information that we've received thus far that the capital murder charges against [Gage Allen] are appropriate," Marshall said.

"At this point we do not feel that those charges are appropriate against the mother."

Allen was taken from the Marshall County Courthouse to the Blount County Jail where he is an inmate at this time.

A memorial service for Gemma Moore will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at The Sanctuary of Albertville.

http://www.whnt.com/news/sandmountain/whnt-teens-charges-upgraded-to-capital-murder-after-babys-death-in-marshall-county-20120117,0,7201594.story

Ft. Payne, AL - There are new developments in the investigation into the death of an 11 month old girl in Marshall County.

As WAAY 31 first reported last week, 11 month old Gemma LaShae Moore was rushed to the hospital in the early morning hours of January 11th. At the time, investigators believed her injuries were consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. The girl passed away Thursday afternoon.

Now, Sheriff Scott Walls says that the preliminary autopsy results point to a different kind of injury : blunt force trauma.




Immanuel Gage Allen----------- Bridgett Duncan



In the wake of the new information, charges against the child's mother - 24 year old Bridgette Duncan were not upgraded. She remains charged with Aggravated Child Abuse. Over the weekend, her bond was reduced from $2,000,000 to $10,000. She was released Sunday on bond.

Her boyfriend, 17 year old Immanuel Gage Allen, had his charges upgraded to Murder on Tuesday afternoon. He's now being held without bond and will be tried as an adult.

http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/New-Details-in-Marshall-County-Baby-Death/Tr5LqbbOtEmQKJxCyQ2MRw.cspx