Hoover Teen Indicted In Death Of Toddler

HOOVER, AL - A Jefferson County grand jury issued the two-count indictment against 19-year-old Dlonata Khalil Melton on January 12. He is indicted on charges of murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of 2-year-old Levi Ellise Pointer, his girlfriend's daughter.

The incident occurred on September 21 last year. Emergency personnel responded to The Retreat at Rocky Ridge Apartments regarding a medical issue with the child. Responders arrived to find the child in severe distress and transported her to Children's Hospital where she died later that evening.

A member of the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office determined the child had a significant skull fracture. Dlonta Khalil Melton, the child's only guardian at the time of her death, was arrested by Hoover police Tuesday and charged with murder. He is being held on $50,000 bond and will be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail.

Melton gave explanations as to how the child's injuries occurred, but police officials said they were inconsistent with the injuries the child sustained, and were easily disproved.

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