8-month-old boy found showing “no signs of life” died after his intoxicated 35-year-old mother beat him severely; mother charged
Alabama – In a deeply disturbing case in Alabama, a 35-year-old mother, identified as M. Thornton, is facing serious charges after her 8-month-old son, who was found showing “no signs of life,” succumbed to the injuries she inflicted. She is facing capital murder charges after the boy was found severely beaten and later died at a hospital.
Thornton was initially charged with aggravated child abuse when sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical call involving an infant at a home shortly after midnight on August 1. Deputies discovered the boy unresponsive and showing “no signs of life.” First responders managed to regain a pulse, and the infant was rushed to the hospital. Despite their efforts, the 8-month-old boy succumbed to his injuries. Once he died, the abuse charge was upgraded to capital murder, a crime punishable by death in Alabama.
Deputies said the infant appeared to be “severely beaten” when they arrived. The investigation quickly led them to Thornton as the person responsible for the injuries. According to the sheriff’s office, she appeared intoxicated at the scene, prompting deputies to obtain a blood sample. Thornton was arrested that same night and booked into the county jail, where she remains without bond. Her preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for this week, was postponed to August 14. According to reports, the victims had a twin brother and two other siblings.
During a court appearance last week, Thornton reportedly appeared confused when informed she was being charged with her son’s death, telling the judge, “I don’t understand.” Speaking later to a local television reporter, she claimed, “I put my son to bed. I swaddled him and put him to bed at 7 o’clock, and then something happened.” When asked if she remembered anything afterward, she replied, “Tried to give him CPR. That’s all.” Neighbors expressed disbelief, struggling to reconcile the allegations with the woman they knew. Sheriff J. McLaughlin released a statement urging the public to “keep this family and everyone who responded to this heartbreaking scene in your prayers.” He praised the deputies, firefighters, EMTs, hospital staff, and child welfare workers who fought to save the 8-month-old boy, saying their actions “reflect the very best of public service.”
Court records reveal that Thornton has a history of violent and reckless behavior. Last month, she pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for kicking a police officer in the crotch during a June incident. That same day, she was accused of driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle, as well as domestic violence and disorderly conduct for allegedly striking a man in the head and yelling profanities in a neighborhood. Those additional charges were dropped as part of her plea deal in the assault case. In 2019, she was also arrested for and pleaded guilty to public intoxication.
Thornton remains in custody at the county jail. If convicted of capital murder, she could face life without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will pursue the maximum sentence, but the upgraded charge signals the severity with which they view the case. As the victim’s family mourn the death of an infant whose life ended before it truly began, the case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of domestic abuse and the devastating impact of parental violence.
