Man Found Guilty In Hoover Toddler's Death

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — The tragic death of a two-year-old girl in Hoover has now produced a guilty virdict, as a 21-year-old man has been found guilty in the 2017 death of the toddler.

Dlonta Khalil Melton was found guilty Monday of reckless manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. Both are felony convictions. He was originally charged with murder.

The incident occurred on September 21, 2017. 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

A report by Alabama Media Group said Melton caused the death of Levi by blunt force injury to the head and then withholding medical care. On the aggravated child abuse charge, the indictment said Melton "did willfully torture, willfully abuse, cruelly beat" Levi with blunt force injury to the head.

The jury began its deliberations about 3:30 p.m. Friday before returning a verdict Monday. Sentencing for Melton is set for Sept. 25.