A 22-year-old mother has been charged with murder after allegedly tying her two-year-old daughter's arms, legs, and ankles together before leaving her face down on a bed to suffocate. Sierra Shay Hadaway was arrested on July 16, over a month after the death of Madilynn Hadaway on June 12 in Lanett, Alabama. A second suspect, Christian Myles Sturkie, fatally shot himself after the child's death, according to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office.
Details of the Incident
Madilynn was found dead in her home, bound and left face down on a bed for 12 hours. Authorities believe she died of asphyxiation, though further details have not been released. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the toddler suffocated after being left in that position. Sturkie's relationship to the child remains unclear.
Mother's Arrest and Background
Hadaway is being held at the Chambers County Detention Facility with no bond. Her Facebook profile, under the name Sierra Hill, includes a memorial to her daughter: "Madilynn Grace 09/22/2023-06/12/2026," along with the phrase "But GOD." An obituary described Madilynn as a "precious angel" who "filled our lives with immeasurable love, laughter, and happiness." It noted she enjoyed playing with dolls and getting dirty in the yard.
Community and Legal Proceedings
Lanett, a city of about 6,750 people along the Chattahoochee River in eastern Alabama, has been shocked by the tragedy. The case continues as Hadaway faces murder charges, with no bond set. The investigation is ongoing, and further information is expected to be released as the legal process unfolds.
