The Heartbreaking Case of Baby Caliyah McNabb: Two-week-old Baby Fatally Beaten By Her Father



Newton County, Georgia, became the focal point of a heart-wrenching tragedy in 2017: the death of 2-week-old Caliyah McNabb.

Her parents, Chris McNabb and Cortney Bell faced allegations of unthinkable crimes as a result of Caliyah's death. 

This true crime story highlights the devastating consequences of drug abuse, domestic violence, and parental neglect.

Let's get into it.

Caliyah McNabb


What Happened to Caliyah McNabb?

In 2017, Chris Mcnabb and Cortney Bell lived in a mobile home in Covington, a small town in Newton County, Georgia. 

Their lives were far from ordinary; both were struggling with drug addiction, particularly methamphetamine.

Despite their challenges, the couple welcomed baby Caliyah McNabb into the world on September 23, 2017. 

However, just 15 days later, their newborn disappeared from their mobile home, setting off a chain of events that would uncover a horrifying crime.

On the morning of October 7, 2017, Cortney Bell discovered her infant daughter missing, after their two-year-old daughter alerted them to her absence. 

Her mother, Cortney Bell quickly reported her disappearance to law enforcement in Newton County. 

Authorities arrived to find a chaotic scene, with Bell claiming she had no idea how Caliyah could have disappeared.

Hours later, search teams discovered Caliyah’s lifeless body in a nearby wooded area. 

The infant was wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a gym bag that belonged to Christopher McNabb.

An autopsy revealed that Caliyah had died from blunt force trauma to her head, a discovery that led investigators to focus their attention on her parents.

The crime scene where Baby Caliyah McNabb was found


Investigation into Caliyah McNabb’s Death

The Newton County Sheriff's Office immediately began piecing together the events leading up to Caliyah McNabb’s death.

The criminal investigation  quickly zeroed in on Christopher McNabb and Cortney Bell. 

McNabb, in particular, faced intense scrutiny for his erratic actions, especially when he tried to run away as soon as officers approached him.

According to police reports, Christopher's account of what happened that day was riddled with inconsistencies.

He suggested another individual might have committed the crime but crime scene investigators found this hard to believe. 

Further investigation revealed that Christopher McNabb planted evidence, such as discarded shoes in the woods, to mislead investigators.

Evidence gathered during the investigation painted a grim picture.

Detectives believe McNabb was frustrated by Caliyah’s crying.

As a result, he violently attacked her, causing severe head trauma. 

Her body showed signs of physical abuse, confirming a brutal end to her young life.

District Attorney Layla H. Zon poignantly stated, “That child cried and didn’t do anything but need love and support. And her daddy killed her because of that.”

As a result of this Christopher McNabb was immediately arrested and charged with his daughter's death. 

Bell was also charged, not for directly harming Caliyah, but for her negligence as a mother. 

Prosecutors argued that Bell’s decision to continue living with McNabb, despite his history of violence and drug abuse, contributed to the unsafe environment that led to Caliyah’s death.

Christopher McNabb and Cortney Bell


Trial and Sentencing Details

Christopher McNabb and Cortney Bell's trial took place in 2019 in Newton County, Georgia. 

The evidence was largely circumstantial but compelling. 

The gym bag containing Caliyah’s body belonged to McNabb, and the clothes wrapped around her matched his. 

Additionally, McNabb’s timeline of events raised red flags according to prosecutors. 

His social media activity and messages suggested he was awake during the time he claimed to be asleep when Caliyah disappeared. 

Prosecutors claimed that Christopher lost control and snapped when Caliyah cried that night.

The prosecution also argued that both McNabb and his partner, Cortney Bell, were under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crime

A jury convicted Christopher McNabb on eight counts, including malice murder, and sentenced him to life without parole. 

He was also given an additional 10 years for other charges. 

Courtney Bell was convicted on three counts, including second-degree murder, and received a 30-year sentence with 15 years to be served in prison.

Throughout the trial, McNabb maintained his innocence.

“I would never do this. I’m innocent,” he said.

However, Judge John Ott was not moved, sentencing him to the maximum penalty for the “horrific crimes” against his daughter.

Christopher McNabb in court


Why Was Cortney Bell’s Conviction Overturned?: The Aftermath 


It stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove her culpability in Caliyah’s death. 

The court ruled that Bell’s neglect and poor choices, while troubling, did not make her directly responsible for her daughter’s murder. 

Justice John J. Ellington wrote, “There was no evidence presented that showed Bell was a party to McNabb’s crimes.”

Courtney Bell’s defense attorney, Eric Crawford, argued that her failure to leave McNabb or seek help, though negligent, did not make her complicit in the murder. 

Christopher McNabb appealed his life sentence but it was upheld by the Supreme Court. 

While McNabb serves a life sentence, Bell's overturned conviction raises questions about how the justice system addresses parental neglect in such cases.

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