Allen pleas to a life sentence in death of toddler

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Twenty-four-year-old Cody Allen of Mountain Home pleaded guilty Thursday in Baxter County Circuit Court to causing the death of an almost two-year-old Flippin girl in May, 2016. He faced capital murder charges, and the state had sought the death penalty. Under a plea agreement, Allen was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Defense Attorney George Morledge IV stood with Allen during his sentencing.

As he stood before the bench dressed in prison whites, he acknowledged on or about May 1, 2016 in Marion County, he knowingly caused the death of a child under the age of 14 by inflicting severe brain damage which resulted in the child’s death.

Circuit Judge John Putman asked him if he had anything to say before his sentenced was pronounced and in a soft voice he answered “no sir.”

The case began when officers were called to a Flippin apartment complex May 1st, 2016 for an unresponsive two-year-old girl, later identified as Alithia Ivory Boyd. The initial report stated the girl had fallen down a flight of stairs in the apartment. However, an extensive follow-up investigation by the Flippin Police Department, with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, began to point away from an accident, especially given the severity of the little girl’s injuries.

Officers observed the two-year-old had extensive and severe bruising over her body, especially in the head area. The toddler was flown to Mercy Hospital in Springfield and placed on life support. Medical personnel said her injuries were apparently sustained from impacts with an object of some sort. It was announced on Friday, May 6th, 2016 she had died from her injuries.

Allen was developed as a suspect in the case after interviews, evidence gathered at the residence and an analysis of a number of electronic and telephone records.

At a press conference in Yellville, shortly after the girl’s death, 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge said Allen would be charged with capital murder. At that time he said he had not decided whether to seek the death penalty.

In an arrest related to the case, the mother of Boyd, 21-year-old Anastasa Weaver of Mountain Home, was arrested on charges of manslaughter and permitting child abuse. According to court records, she is scheduled for a final hearing February 14th, 2018 and a trial by jury on February 22, 2018.

Allen was first booked into the Marion County jail, but was transferred to the state prison system after he attempted to kill himself. He was on parole from a Baxter County conviction in August 2014. He was given five years after pleading guilty to burglary, breaking or entering, and theft of property. The charges resulted from the burglary of a house on State Highway 178 in Midway.

He is currently being held in the North Central Unit in Calico Rock.

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