An Alabama couple drove around smoking marijuana while a three-year-old died slowly in the backseat. Now, they will spend decades behind bars.
Latterly, a Lauderdale County judge sentenced Yalrick Zeonsha Pride, 23, to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the beating death of Kaiden Garner. Though Pride was initially charged with aggravated child abuse, she was ultimately found guilty and convicted by a jury of felony murder.
“Kaiden’s mother has lived this for three years and was able to get some things off her mind today and speak her peace and get some victim impact information out there, and I think that was healthy for her,” said Lauderdale County District Attorney Christopher Connolly, reported to News 19.
On Aug. 12, 2020, the Florence Police Department responded to North Alabama Medical Center after Garner’s death. At first, authorities thought the child died from heat exposure but later determined through an autopsy that Garner’s death was due to blunt force trauma.
Upon further investigation, the victim’s father, Blake Joshwell Townsend, admitted to hitting his son twice in his abdomen with an open hand while describing some external injuries. He was also indicted and charged with beating and punching a minor, causing a laceration of the child’s liver, other internal injuries, and external injuries, and leading to the death of a child. According to AL.com, Townsend pleaded guilty in exchange for his testimony against his former girlfriend and co-defendant. He was sentenced to life in prison.
During Pride’s trial, Townsend’s defense lawyers asked the judge for leniency and a sentence reduction due to their client’s cooperation with authorities. The judge denied the request.
According to prosecutors, the couple had been on a joy ride smoking marijuana while Garner had been in the back seat dying. By the time paramedics found the child, Garner’s body was cold with rigor mortis already set in.
Garner’s family set up a foundation to raise awareness of child abuse and its prevention.
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