BIRMINGHAM, AL — Authorities have recovered the body of the 3-year-old Birmingham girl who was last seen at a birthday party 10 days ago and the case is now being investigated as a homicide, Birmingham officials said at a press conference Tuesday night.
Police say they found the body of the young girl in a garbage bin that had been parked in the Center Point area and then later moved to a landfill near Warrior. The remains are that of Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney, police said, adding she was found during a search of nearly 12 tons of garbage. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed Wednesday that the body found was Kamille.
Two suspects are in custody, according to law enforcement. Patrick Devone Stallworth, 39, who was a person of interest in the case early on, was arrested around 7 p.m., Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said.
Derick Irisha Brown, 29, remains in the Jefferson County Jail. Authorities filed a motion Tuesday to revoke her bond in a 2018 case in which she is accused of abducting her three children from state custody. Brown also uses the name Quentesa Jackson.
Both suspects will be charged with capital murder and kidnapping, Smith said.
Stallworth and Brown were the original people of interest in the case. Stallworth, who was arrested shortly after the abduction, was charged with possession of child pornography and possession with intent to distribute child pornography. The images were discovered on his phone during the ongoing investigation into the abduction.
“We feel that our investigation from the start has led us into a pretty affirmative direction, and we do need to keep out options open,” Smith said regarding the possibility of other suspects. Smith said police have found no connection between the suspects and Kamille’s family.
“To the entire community, your pain, your anger, your tears, your sadness will not be ignored,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “I want us all in solidarity to lift Kamille’s family up in prayer.”
Gov. Kay Ivey, who offered the initial $5,000 reward for Kamille’s safe return, issued a statement shortly after the press conference.
“The heart of our state is broken, but our resolve must be to do everything we can to avoid this tragedy from happening to another family,” Ivey said. “Our prayers are with Kamille’s family and all who have been touched by this nightmare.”
This story will be updated as more information is available.