Remains believed to be those of Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney, abducted 10 days ago from a Birmingham birthday party, were found by police and FBI agents Tuesday night inside of a dumpster at a landfill.
If the body is that of the child, the discovery will mark a tragic end to a massive search that has kept Birmingham, and all of Alabama, on edge for nearly two weeks.
“I wish I had all of you gathered here with good news. I wish I could share a high five or some other type of celebratory salutation but I cannot,” said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith.
The Birmingham Police Department, along with the FBI, found Kamille’s remains inside of a Santek dumpster that had been parked in the Center Point area and later moved to a landfill near Warrior.
Smith said investigators have been sifting through about 12 tons of trash collected from in and around the Birmingham area for several days.
“Our investigators, along with the FBI, have worked tirelessly, 24 hours a day, to locate this young child and bring her back home and to hold those accountable who were involved in her disappearance … and ultimately her demise,” Smith said.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 9:29 p.m. Tuesday cancelled the Amber Alert that was issued hours after the abduction.
“This is a tough moment for this city. This is a tough moment for this family,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin.
“Given the tragic news that is breaking this evening, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Kamille’s family,” a statement from Gov. Kay Ivey read.
“I offer profound thanks to law enforcement and to all the volunteers who have worked tirelessly in search of this precious little girl. The heart of our state is broke, but we must do all we can to avoid this happening to another family. Our prayers remain with Kamille’s family and all who have been touched by this nightmare.”
Charges planned for two suspects
Police plan to charge Patrick Stallworth, 39, and 29-year-old Derick Irisha Brown with capital murder and kidnapping in Kamille’s death, Smith said.
The day after Kamille’s abduction, police arrested Stallworth and Brown, his girlfriend, and impounded his Toyota SUV after he was identified as a man seen in surveillance footage at an Avondale store near the time of Kamille’s abduction. His Toyota Sequoia matched the description given by other children in the area at the time who said a man had been handing candy to kids at Tom Brown Village.
Stallworth’s attorney, Emory Anthony, declined to comment Tuesday night on the planned charges against his client.
Anthony has previously said Stallworth has an alibi for the time frame in which police said Kamille was abducted and that his client does not know any of Kamille’s family members.
Brown was held on a bond revocation from a previous kidnapping case involving her children. Stallworth was charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography after investigators found multiple images in his phone. None of those images were of Kamille. He was released on $500,000 bond but taken back into custody about 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Adam Danneman, a public defender whose office represents Brown, has previously said she “adamantly denies” knowing anything about the abduction and is “horrified” by the girl’s disappearance. AL.com is reaching out to Danneman for comment in the wake of the planned charges in Kamille’s death.
‘Our entire city is mourning’
Smith has not released specific details about what may have happened to Kamille while she was in captivity, or how long she was in captivity before she was killed.
“We believe that this was something they thought about and acted upon. They saw an opportunity to take a young child and they did. Our further investigation will reveal whatever happened after that,” Smith said.
Smith said police have not established any link between Stallworth and Brown and Kamille’s family and addressed speculation of the family’s involvement. Kamille’s mother did not give interviews at the request of the police, Smith said.
“People have asked and commented, ‘Where’s the mother and why isn’t she out here appealing to the public about the safe return of her child?’” he said. “It was our call not to put the family out there. We asked everyone to remain back and allow us to do our job. This is not a movie. This is reality.”
Kamille’s family was summoned to Birmingham police headquarters about an hour before the 8 p.m. press conference announcing the discovery of the body. It was then investigators delivered the heartbreaking news to them.
“This moment for our city right now is very hard. It is the hardest for April Thomas, Kamille’s mother, Dominic McKinney, Kamille’s father, who have received this information and I know without a doubt are in tears right now,” Woodfin said. “They’re not in tears alone, they’re not crying alone, they’re not mourning alone. Tonight our entire city is mourning.”
Woodfin sought to assure the public that those responsible for Kamille’s death will be brought to justice.
“Tonight, right now, at this moment that we’re standing in, I ask one of this community – not to take sides, not to finger point but if there is any finger pointing to do it’s at the perpetrator who would kidnap and innocent 3-year-old. We stand in solidarity beside this broken family,” Woodfin said.
“To the family of Kamille, your pain, your grief, your tears, your anger, your sadness, your many questions, your pain is not ignored,” Woodfin said. “Your cries for help have not gone unanswered and will not go unanswered. I ask that we all in solidarity lift Kamille’s entire family up in prayer. A 3-year-old has been snuffed out from her family.”
‘It only takes a split second’
Within 24 hours of Kamille’s abduction, police were confident that Stallworth and Brown were responsible for the crime. Smith said Tuesday night the investigation is ongoing, but did not indicate whether anyone else would be arrested in connection with Kamille’s disappearance and slaying.
Smith thanked everyone who helped in the search for Kamille, especially the community members who provided tips, video and cooperation.
He also thanked the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Jefferson County EMA, Gov. Kay Ivey, Crime Stoppers and generous donors who stepped up with offers of money for rewards. He also thanked Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service and the volunteers who trudged through brush, streams and sifted through trash during the searches.
“There were a ton of people who were involved who wanted to see this young child come home,” he said.
The chief said he hopes that this message is not lost: “To young mothers, to grandmothers and to the entire Birmingham community, it only takes a split second. We can no longer assume that everyone is a part of the village that is trying to raise the child.”
“We cannot take these things for granted. We must work incredibly hard to do more to save the children in this community,” he said. “This young child has touched the nation. This young child as definitely sent a message across the nation that we must all be diligent in protecting them all.”
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