T'Kia Bevily

ABERDEEN, Miss. — A Mississippi woman has been found not guilty in the killing of her 14-month-old stepdaughter.

A Monroe County jury on Friday acquitted T’Kia Bevily. It was her second trial in the 2017 death of Jurayah Smith in Claiborne County.

A Claiborne County jury convicted Bevily of capital murder in January 2021. Her defense attorneys then raised questions about a juror who is related to the victim’s mother.

More:Charges upgraded for Mississippi mom accused of killing infant, police say

In September, a judge granted Bevily a new trial and a change of venue. Monroe County is about 225 miles (362.10 kilometers) northeast of Claiborne County.

Bevily and two of her attorneys spoke to WLBT-TV after the verdict Friday.

“She’s been innocent this whole time,” said attorney Dennis Sweet IV.



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