Kamille McKinney's Accused Killer Says He Is Innocent

BIRMINGHAM, AL — One of the suspects accused of kidnapping and killing 3-year-old Kamille McKinney says he is innocent. The attorney for Patrick Devone Stallworth says his client wans to clear his name.

Stallworth, 39, and his girlfriend, 29-year-old Derick Irisha Brown, are charged with capital murder of a child under the age of 14. If Stallworth and Brown are convicted, both could face the death penalty.

Veteran defense attorney Derrick Collins was appointed Monday morning to represent Stallworth on the capital murder charge, according to an Alabama Media Group report. Collins already had been appointed to defend Stallworth on child pornography charges filed after Kamille’s abduction.

"He did tell me he’s innocent and that’s why he wants to defend himself," Collins told al.com. "He wants everyone to follow the law and give him the presumption of innocence. It’s a bad situation for him. He’s very distraught. He’s just confused. He’s trying to accept the situation he’s in and learning to try to deal with where he’s at."

Collins said after the hearing that it’s his understanding Brown has given police a statement against Stallworth and suspects the pair will be tried separately because of that.

Brown is represented by Jefferson County public defender Adam Danneman, who has said he and his client are not ready to make a statement publicly regarding the case.

Police say they found the body of the young girl, missing since Oct. 12, 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 coroner's investigation showed Kamille was killed the same day she was kidnapped.