Alabama mom charged in toddler’s death swaddled child to break finger-sucking: Cops

LAFAYETTE, Ala. (WRBL) — A Chambers County judge is expected to decide within 48 hours whether a Lanett mother charged with murdering her 2-year-old daughter will remain in jail without bond.

Twenty-two-year-old Sierra Shay Hadaway appeared in court Monday for an Aniah’s Law hearing that lasted about an hour. Prosecutors asked the judge to deny bond, arguing Hadaway poses a danger to the community and to her unborn child.

The hearing revealed new details in the investigation into the June 12, 2026, death of 2-year-old Madilynn Hadaway.

A second suspect, Christian Myles Sturkie, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 14, 2026. Testimony revealed Hadaway and Sturkie were dating and staying at a friend’s home when Madilynn died. Investigators also testified Sturkie was not Madilynn’s father.

The investigation led to Hadaway’s arrest on a charge of murder.

During Monday’s hearing, investigators testified the autopsy showed Madilynn had been bound around her neck and shoulders, waist and feet before she died. They also testified the 2½-year-old had a bruise on her chin that appeared consistent with a child struggling to move her head in an attempt to breathe.

The court also heard testimony that Hadaway admitted she routinely “swaddled” Madilynn because the toddler sucked her fingers. According to investigators, Hadaway said she tightly wrapped the child in an effort to break the habit.

Investigators testified Hadaway gave three different accounts of what happened the night Madilynn died. They said she initially told investigators she put her daughter to bed and she was fine. Later, she claimed Madilynn had put herself to bed.

After Sturkie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, investigators testified Hadaway contacted them again and changed her story, saying Sturkie had been at the home when Madilynn died and that he had put the child to bed. According to investigators, Hadaway said she did not reveal that earlier because Sturkie threatened to kill her if she told anyone he had been there.

Investigators challenged that explanation during the hearing. They testified Hadaway left the hospital after Madilynn’s death, sought out Sturkie and stayed with him for the next two nights until he died by suicide.

Investigators also testified they found open beer bottles, open pill bottles, suspected cocaine powder, marijuana, green paracord, duct tape and adult T-shirts that appeared to have been tied inside the home.

The court also heard testimony that a white noise machine in Madilynn’s bedroom was turned up so loudly investigators could not hear one another while standing inside the room.

Investigators testified witnesses had previously reported seeing Madilynn restrained by her mother. 

The defense asked the judge to grant bond, telling the court Hadaway has family support and is pregnant with Sturkie’s child.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Chambers County District Judge Terrence Brown said he would issue a written order within 48 hours on whether Hadaway will remain in the Chambers County Detention Facility without bond or be released while awaiting trial.

Hadaway remains held without bond in the Chambers County Detention Facility.

The investigation remains ongoing by the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, the Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Hadaway has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

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