A Duluth man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter, a crime that shook the Gwinnett County community. Mallik Kyhree Kennedy, now 27, was convicted on May 2 for the 2021 murder after a jury found him guilty of malice murder, felony murder charges, aggravated battery, and first-degree cruelty to children, reported FOX 5 Atlanta.
The horrific events unfolded when the child's mother, who had sought the assistance of Kennedy, her then-boyfriend, to care for her daughter while she worked, returned to her hotel room to find her daughter, Trinity Kyles, unresponsive. Gwinnett County fire department personnel were called to the Quality Inn on Venture Parkway but were unable to revive the toddler, as per a Patch article.
Police officers responding to the scene observed the child with multiple bruises, including finger and fingernail impressions on her cheeks, a swollen forehead, and additional bruises scattered across her body. An autopsy later revealed a severe injury to the back of Trinity's head, prompting the county coroner to rule the death as a homicide.
During the trial, evidence contradicted Kennedy's initial claim that he had given the child melatonin to help her sleep. Instead, prosecutors painted a grim picture of the events leading to Trinity's death, stating that Kennedy "slammed the toddler's head against the headboard of the bed until she became unconscious" and when she awoke, "he violently shook her until he passed out again," FOX 5 Atlanta described. Adding to the tragedy, as the child suffered a seizure and bled from the mouth, it appeared that Kennedy neglected to seek medical aid, instead choosing to engage in a routine that included drinking alcohol and playing video games.
Expressing her sympathy for the victim's family, Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said, "We continue to grieve with Trinity’s family for this senseless loss. Although this verdict and sentencing cannot replace this little girl’s future or quell her family’s pain, our hope is that it brings them justice and provides them with some solace." Kennedy's conviction, while it brings a measure of closure, has left a community grappling with the heartbreak of a young life lost far too early.
