Lanett, Alabama — A 22-year-old Alabama mother, Sierra Shay Hadaway, has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Madilynn Grace Hadaway. Authorities say the toddler was bound hand and foot and left face-down on a bed for more than 12 hours, resulting in her suffocation.

The child was found dead on June 12, 2026, in Lanett, Alabama. A second suspect, Christian Myles Sturkie, died by suicide on June 14. The Chambers County Sheriff’s Office concluded its investigation this week, leading to Hadaway’s arrest. She is being held without bond at the Chambers County Detention Facility.

Sources:

• New York Post