A Campbell County jury on Thursday convicted La Follette's mother, Holly Daugherty, on three counts of aggravated child abuse involving her three-month-old twin sons. The verdict came at the end of a three-day trial in Campbell County Criminal Court before Judge Zachary R. Walden, who revoked Daugherty’s bail on the spot and ordered her taken into custody. Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
The 28-year-old was convicted on charges prosecutors say stem from injuries to the infants, and the district attorney’s office publicly credited multiple investigators and medical experts in its announcement, according to Jared Effler. Effler’s post names Special Agent Danielle Lawson, formerly of the La Follette Police Department, and Kayla Mayle, formerly with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, as investigators who worked the case. The statement also notes assistance from Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Rachel Bakaletz and medical expertise provided by Dr. Karen Lakin of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Campbell County Jury Returns Guilty Verdict
The verdict followed three days of testimony in Campbell County Criminal Court, with jurors finding Daugherty guilty on three counts of aggravated child abuse of a child under 8, reportedly tied to injuries to her three-month-old twin sons. Local outlet WLAF reports that Judge Walden revoked Daugherty’s bail immediately after the jury returned its decision and ordered her held pending sentencing.
Investigators and Prosecution
Prosecutors credited Special Agent Danielle Lawson and investigator Kayla Mayle with opening and advancing the inquiry, and thanked TBI Special Agent Rachel Bakaletz for her assistance, according to the post from Jared Effler. The district attorney’s office also cited medical input from Dr. Karen Lakin at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as important to the case. Assistant District Attorneys General Andi L. Bridges and Apryl C. Bradshaw led the prosecution at trial, according to Effler’s statement.
Legal Stakes Under Tennessee Law
Aggravated child abuse in Tennessee is defined under Haley’s Law and is generally classified as a Class B felony. When the victim is eight years old or younger, it is elevated to a Class A felony, a standard that applies in this case, according to Justia. The statute outlines examples of “serious bodily injury” that can raise the stakes, and state sentencing ranges for Class A felonies can be severe. Legal summaries note that Class A penalties may include multi-decade prison terms depending on aggravating factors and a defendant’s record; for additional context on penalties and reporting requirements, see FindLaw.
What’s Next
Daugherty is scheduled to return to Campbell County Criminal Court for sentencing on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, when Judge Walden will weigh any aggravating and mitigating factors before imposing a term. The district attorney’s office has publicly thanked investigators and medical experts in its statement and indicated the case will move forward through the normal sentencing process. According to WLAF, Daugherty was taken into custody after the verdict; court records or the clerk’s office can confirm any future schedule changes or additional filings.
