Tkia bevily vs state of mississippi

Q: What did Tkia Bevily do?

In January of 2021, TKia was found guilty of killing her stepdaughter and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, months later, in September of that same year, a judge overturned the conviction due to jury misconduct. Evidence came forward suggesting a juror was related to the victim.

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What did Tkia Bevily do?
What happened Jurayah Bevily?
What happen to Morris Bevily?
Is TKIA Bevily free?

T’Kia Bevily with her attorneys after being acquitted of murdering 14-month-old stepdaughter Jurayah Smith.

In her second trial, a Mississippi woman was acquitted of murdering her 14-month-old stepdaughter. T’Kia Bevily welcomed the news more than a year after she was convicted in an initial trial for allegedly murdering young Jurayah Smith.

“When I heard Judge Irving say ‘not guilty,’ I was kind of in shock a little bit,” she said Friday, according to WLBT. “And then when it really hit me, I broke down.”

Prosecutors said that she and the child’s biological father Morris Bevily were responsible for the young girl’s death in October 2017. She was in their care when she sustained multiple blunt-force injuries to her head, authorities said.

A judge in Claiborne County overturned the verdict in September 2021 after determining a juror turned out to be the child’s great uncle. Bevily’s attorneys successfully got the court to move trial to Monroe County, arguing that they could not get a fair trial in Claiborne. The result of the retrial was a complete 180 from the first.

“The evidence just didn’t support it because it just didn’t happen,” attorney Dennis Sweet IV told reporters at T’Kia Bevily’s side. “She’s been innocent this whole time.”

The trial against Morris has yet to happen but is reportedly expected to take place this year.

Though Bevily’s team happily accepted the verdict, WLBT noted that family members and friends of the child’s biological mother DeDreuna Smith were visibly distraught at the acquittal.

Back in February 2021, DeDreuna thanked God, the district attorney, and the state of Mississippi for pursing justice on behalf of Jurayah. Bevily had been convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“Knowing that the person responsible for the homicide of my precious Jurayah is being held accountable for their actions brings a feeling of relief over my whole family,” she said, according to WAPT. “Receiving this guilty verdict is only the start of the healing process for my family, our friends, loved ones & myself. We’re grateful for the outcome and we’re hopeful for the peaceful closure that this process has brought.”

Attorneys for Bevily are promising to more activity in the future on behalf on their client.

“There’s going to be some more action coming,” Sweet said Friday. “We are not done. We are going to continue to fight and we are going to continue to clear her name.”

[Screenshot via WLBT]

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MONROE CO., Miss. (WLBT) - For the past three years, T’Kia Bevily has been a prime suspect in the death of her 14-month-old stepdaughter, Jurayah Smith.

On Friday, a Monroe County jury found Bevily not guilty of her capital murder charge.

Ten days — that’s how long it took the prosecution and defense to present their case during this re-trial.

However, it only took jurors a little more than one hour to reach their verdict.

When the verdict was read, emotions started pouring out from many inside the courtroom, including from the defendant, Bevily.

She shouted loudly and then began crying tears of joy and relief after she says her name had been tarnished for so long.

“When I heard Judge (Tomika) Irving say not guilty, I was kind of in shock a little bit, and then when it really hit me, I broke down,” Bevily recalled. “I think that was years and years I’ve been told that I did something that I didn’t do, and finally having it acknowledged.”

Moments after finding out she’s a free woman and her second capital murder trial is over, Bevily was all smiles as she posed for photos with family members and friends — people she says helped her stay strong while being accused of murder.

“It is an unexplainable feeling to have two small children and not know if you will be there to watch them grow up,” said Bevily.

Everything dates back to 2017. In October of that year, Jurayah died while in the care of her father, Morris Bevily, and his wife, T’Kia.

Investigators say Jurayah received multiple blunt-force injuries to her head.

In May of 2019, the Bevilys turned themselves in. Both were charged with capital murder.

Then, in January of 2021, T’Kia was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

However, months later, a judge overturned the conviction due to jury misconduct.

Evidence came forward suggesting a juror was related to the victim, baby Jurayah.

Court records show the juror was the victim’s great uncle, even though he did not reveal that fact during jury questioning.

A judge then issued a new trial, and T’Kia’s legal team asked for a change of venue because they didn’t believe they’d get a fair trial in Claiborne County.

Prosecutors spent the past two weeks bringing in witnesses and arguing why they believe Bevily beat and killed the 14-month-old.

Defense attorneys disagreed and fought to clear Bevily’s name, arguing she was wrongly accused.

Following Friday’s verdict, the Claiborne County woman is now absolved of her capital murder charge.

Her attorneys stated there was no proof that their client committed this crime.

“The evidence just did not support it because it just didn’t happen,” said Dennis Sweet IV, one of Bevily’s attorneys. “She’s been innocent this whole time.”

“She had to sit through weeks of having her name dragged through the mud, her character dragged through the mud,” said Lawrence Blackmon, who also represented Bevily during this trial. “I believe she was specifically called a murderer and a murder weapon today by the state of Mississippi, but the facts were just not there to support those accusations.”

Throughout the past three years, Bevily has continued to maintain her innocence despite the charges and accusations.

“It was frustrating to have built such a reputation like I had, and to hear it be drug (through the mud) because of baseless accusations, I just hope I can rebuild,” said Bevily. “I hope to become a beacon of hope and a voice for the people in my situation.”

Morris is scheduled to stand for his capital murder trial sometime this year. As of right now, a trial date is still pending.

3 On Your Side reached out to prosecutors for a comment following Friday’s verdict. They declined, saying they believe they are still under the court’s gag order at this time.

Day 10: T’Kia Bevily found not guilty of killing her 14-month-old stepdaughter, Jurayah Smith

Day 9: Defense and prosecution call final witnesses to the stand

Day 8: Doctors say Jurayah Smith’s manner of death was not homicide; prosecutors disagree

Day 5: Jurayah Smith’s great aunt called as a witness

Day 4: Jurayah Smith’s mother takes the stand

Day 3: Request for mistrial denied in T’Kia Bevily murder trial

Day 2: Tempers flare as testimony begins in T’kia Bevily murder trial

Trial begins for T’Kia Bevily, accused of killing 14-month-old stepdaughter

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What did Tkia Bevily do?

In January of 2021, T'Kia was found guilty of killing her stepdaughter and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, months later, in September of that same year, a judge overturned the conviction due to jury misconduct. Evidence came forward suggesting a juror was related to the victim.

What happened Jurayah Bevily?

Medical experts point out that Jurayah did have a linear skull fracture and they believe she got it at least 14 days before the day she died.

What happen to Morris Bevily?

A murder charge has been dismissed against a man who was accused of killing his 14-month-old daughter. The district attorney for Claiborne County filed the motion last month saying there was "insufficient evidence to prosecute" Morris Bevily in connection with the 2017 death of his 14-month-old daughter Jurayah Smith.

Is TKIA Bevily free?

Now, as a free woman, she has different worries for her kids. “When they get older and they are able to see it, the stuff that was said, the comments that were posted, the statuses that were made, that stuff lives on forever,” said Bevily. Through all of it, she said her church and her family stood by her side.