Yolanda Nicole Hunter and Herman Coleman, aka Herman Gardner (Jackson, Mississippi Police Department)
Authorities in Mississippi are searching for a 29-year-old mother and her 33-year-old boyfriend in connection with the killing of the woman’s infant son, who was brutally beaten days before Christmas.
Yolanda Nicole Hunter and Herman Coleman, who also goes by Herman Gardner, face capital murder charges in the slaying of young Prodigy Hunter, authorities announced.
According to Jackson, Mississippi Police Chief Joseph Wade, officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a call at about 10 a.m. on Dec. 21 about an unresponsive infant at an apartment complex in the 3300 block of Sunset Drive. Once there, first responders found the victim — later identified as Prodigy — and took him to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he died.
“This small child had a massive amount of trauma and bruising to the body,” Wade said. “It is very disturbing to me, disheartening to me.” Prodigy died from bruises and trauma to the body, he added.
Hunter was initially arrested on Dec. 22 and charged with felony child abuse in connection to her son’s death. She was released after posting $10,000 bond.
Coleman, initially wanted for questioning, has also been charged with capital murder. Police have not been able to find him.
The results of an autopsy determined that Prodigy’s manner of death was a homicide, which led to the upgraded capital murder charge against Hunter, PEOPLE reported. Defendants convicted of capital murder in Mississippi can face the death penalty.
Wade said the horrific nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the community and the police department.
“This is very hurtful to me as a police chief. It’s very hurtful to us as a community and as a city when this type of violence happens, especially to a 1-year-old infant child,” he said. “It is unacceptable, and we will not stop until whomever committed this act is held accountable here in the city of Jackson.”
The chief noted that several other children lived at the apartment with Hunter and Coleman. They have been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services. Authorities are investigating whether they have also been victims of abuse.
“This is not acceptable,” Wade said. “When I talked to the officers on the scene, the officer couldn’t even look me in the face as he described what this child looked like. It is very traumatizing when you see stuff like that in our city, and I had to come on camera to talk about this.”
Hunter and Coleman have remained on the lam for about two weeks. The police department did not immediately respond to a message from Law&Crime seeking an update on the investigation.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
