A Georgia couple, Miguel Badillo, 24, and Kiara Davis, 27, are facing charges of second-degree murder and child cruelty in connection with the death of their 8-month-old daughter, Ellie. In addition to these charges, the couple is also accused of possessing drug paraphernalia. The charges were brought forth by local law enforcement after the infant was discovered suffocated, trapped between a couch cushion and mattress in a home that was reportedly in a deplorable state, overrun with insects and animal waste.
On September 27, 2024, police officers in Columbus, Georgia, were called to a residence on Rosemont Drive regarding a deceased infant. The department’s Special Victims Unit conducted a search of the property, revealing the hazardous living conditions the child had been subjected to. It was reported that the infant had been placed on a slanted mattress on a love seat, with no safety precautions to prevent her from rolling off and becoming trapped.
The investigation into Ellie’s death resulted in arrest warrants being issued for Badillo and Davis on November 8, 2024. The parents were apprehended five days later. More information about the circumstances surrounding the child’s death was disclosed during a court hearing on November 15, 2024, which was reported by local news outlets.
A police officer who responded to the call testified about the appalling conditions inside the home during the court proceedings. The officer detailed the presence of unrestrained animals, animal waste, insects in every room, and rotting food scattered throughout the house. Davis, who was home at the time of the incident, had reportedly left the infant alone while she stepped outside to talk with a friend. Badillo was not present at the time of his daughter’s death, but was charged due to his knowledge of the unsafe conditions that allegedly contributed to Ellie’s death.
The court was informed that both parents were fully cognizant of the living conditions and the sleeping arrangement for the child. An investigator explained that the infant had rolled off the mattress and became wedged between the mattress and the couch cushion, resulting in her death by asphyxiation.
Despite the charges, the couple’s landlord, Howard Turner, defended them, asserting that they were not cruel to their child. He expressed his belief that Ellie’s death was a tragic accident. After the hearing, the case was moved to Muscogee County Superior Court. Both Davis and Badillo are currently being held without bond at the Muscogee County Jail.