Christopher McNabb is serving life without parole for murdering his 15-day-old daughter. His partner, Courtney Bell, had her convictions reduced after appeal rulings.
A Tragic Case: Infant’s Murder Sends Father to Prison for Life, While Mother Wins Partial Appeal
The murder of 15-day-old Caliyah McNabb in 2017 shocked the small community of Covington, Georgia, and drew national attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the unsettling behavior of her parents.
Initially reported missing by her parents, Christopher McNabb and Courtney Marie Bell, the newborn was later found dead—her body hidden nearby. An autopsy revealed that Caliyah had suffered blunt-force trauma to the head, leading investigators to rule her death a homicide.
McNabb Convicted of Murder and Multiple Felonies
In 2019, a Newton County jury found Christopher McNabb guilty on a long list of charges, including:
- Malice murder
- Felony murder
- Second-degree murder
- Aggravated battery
- Two counts of child cruelty
- Concealing a death
Prosecutors argued that McNabb violently beat his daughter during a period in which both he and Bell were abusing crystal meth.
Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the trial, McNabb inadvertently sealed his fate when he told the judge at sentencing that whoever was responsible for Caliyah’s death deserved the maximum punishment. Moments later, the judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He told the court:
“I just don’t understand how you find somebody guilty of doing something to a 15-day-old baby, because there was no evidence whatsoever that proved anything about me putting my hands on those kids. I was beat as a child and I don’t believe in it. I would never do it.”
As of 2025, McNabb remains incarcerated in Georgia. All of his appeals have been denied.
Courtney Bell’s Convictions Reduced After Appeals
Caliyah’s mother, Courtney Bell, was initially convicted of second-degree murder and child cruelty, and sentenced to 30 years, with 15 to be served in prison.
However, her legal journey took a turn when the Georgia Court of Appeals reviewed her case. The court reversed two convictions—murder in the second degree and cruelty to children in the second degree—but upheld a third conviction for felony contributing to the dependency of a minor.
In its opinion, the appeals court wrote that while Bell’s neglect was not the sole cause of her daughter’s death, it played a “substantial part” in events that led to the tragedy.
But that decision didn’t stand for long. In 2023, the Georgia Supreme Court overruled the final remaining conviction in Bell v. The State, concluding that there was not sufficient evidence to prove Bell’s neglect directly contributed to Caliyah’s death.
Bell’s Statement: “I Am Guilty Because I Did Drugs”
During her police interrogation, Bell acknowledged her drug use but denied any involvement in her daughter’s death.
“I am guilty because I did drugs,” she said. “But I ain’t never seen this comin’. That’s my baby. I went to put her to sleep and I woke up and she was gone.”
A Stark Reminder of Drug Abuse and Child Welfare Failures
This case has highlighted not just the horrifying outcome of one infant’s death, but the dangerous ripple effects of parental substance abuse, domestic instability, and missed opportunities for intervention.
Caliyah was just over two weeks old when her life ended. Her story—and the legal fallout that continues years later—has become a case study in the importance of early intervention, child protection, and accountability in the justice system.
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