The federal trial for Derick Brown, the woman charged in the kidnapping and murder of Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney, is underway today in Tuscaloosa.
Brown is the girlfriend of Patrick Devone Stallworth, who was convicted in October on federal kidnapping charges in the abduction of McKinney, for which he could face a life sentence.
Brown has pled not guilty to the kidnapping charges.
The pair also face state murder charges in McKinney's death and are slated to be arraigned in March 2023.
Prosecutors say Stallworth and Brown had planned to kidnap a child on the day the girl disappeared. Brown has pleaded not guilty in the case and is awaiting a November federal trial. She faces the same state and federal charges as Stallworth. No dates have been set in the state case.
McKinney was abducted from a public housing project on Oct. 12, 2019, and her body was found in a garbage dump 10 days after her abduction.
An autopsy revealed McKinney died from suffocation. She also had methamphetamine, sleeping pills and other drugs in her system at the time of death.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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