Guilty: Jury Gives Life Sentence In Murder Of 3 Year-Old Girl

GASTON COUNTY, NC — A jury has convicted William McCullen of first degree murder by torture and sentenced him to a lifetime behind bars with no parole for for the physical abuse that led to the death of 3-year-old Jordyn Dumont in 2016.

Dumont, who was the daughter of McCullen’s former live-in girlfriend, was found near the couple’s home near Bessemer City one day after McCullen reported her missing. Bessemer City is about 30 miles west of Charlotte.

An autopsy showed the little girl died from blunt force trauma, and Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner Jonathan Privette told the court her death wasn’t instant, WBTV reported.

McCullen confessed to the kill, and told investigators punched her several times and slung her across the road, before hiding her body and reporting her missing, WSOCTV reported. A medical report indicated she had more than 60 bruises on her body and had suffered internal bleeding.

McCullen’s defense attorney told the court that he had not intended to kill Dumont while he physically disciplined her and that her death was accidental. McCullen said he plans to appeal, WBTV reported.

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