KEANTE TAUNTON - 4 yo - Montgomery AL

"My heart goes out to the brothers, sisters, the mother."
Just across the street from the apartment building
where Brittany Ellis allegedly killed her four year old son Keante
Taunton is a neighbor wondering why it happened.
"When I hear cases like this it really makes me mad."
The neighbor wishes to remain anonymous, but was
shocked to hear of a murder near his home in Stonebridge
Apartments--especially one involving a child.
"It really...touched my heart. It touched my heart
this evening to know that this happened right here. And I get up every
morning and go out that door, and come back in that door every evening,"
says the neighbor fighting back tears.
Police first arrested Ellis for child abuse in
October, but an autopsy later revealed her son died of restraint-related
asphyxia. Evidence suggests the boy was tied up.
Police charged Ellis with capital murder.
"Because you're going through your trials and
tribulations, don't take it out on your kids," says the neighbor, who
prays the news serves as a wake-up call.
"I hope this is a lesson that will go out to all the other young mothers around this complex because children are our future."
Ellis is currently in the Montgomery County jail.
She's been there ever since her son's death under the original child
abuse charge.

December 30, 2010 11:34 AM ET MONTGOMERY,
Ala. (AP) - Montgomery police have charged a 23-year-old woman with
capital murder in the death of her 4-year-old son.
Brittany Ellis is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Facility.
Capt. Ron Cook, a police spokesman, says an
autopsy showed the cause of the death of Keante Taunton was
restraint-related asphyxia.
Police officers responded to Baptist Medical Center South on Oct. 20 in response to the child's death.
Police initially charged Ellis with child abuse, and added the murder charge after an autopsy report was released Tuesday.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13759889

A Montgomery mother pleaded guilty Wednesday to capital murder in the death of her 4-year-old son.On Wednesday October 20, 2010
police were called to the Baptist South Hospital E.R. in reference to a
deceased child. Upon arrival it was confirmed that Keante Taunton, age
4, was dead. Keante's autopsy report came back and found the boy died of
restraint-related asphyxia, the death was ruled a homicide. Police say
evidence suggests the child had been tied up.
Keante's mother,
24-year-old Brittany Ellis was charged with Child Abuse based on her
interview, a witness interview, and evidence. On Wednesday, September 21
Ellis entered a guilty plea in the death of her son.
Keante Taunton was the City of Montgomery’s 25th Homicide for 2010.
http://centralmontgomery.wsfa.com/news/crime/114332-montgomery-mother-pleads-guilty-sons-choking-death