From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM – A federal jury convicted a Birmingham man today for kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Patrick Devone Stallworth, 42, after three days of testimony before Chief U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler. Stallworth was convicted of one count of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim, arising out of events that occurred in October 2019.
The jury further found that the minor victim’s death resulted from the kidnapping. Stallworth faces life in prison.
“Today, the jury held the defendant accountable for his actions in victimizing one of the most vulnerable victims in our community, a three-year-old child,” Escalona said. “This office remains dedicated to prosecuting those criminals who prey on children. Just as the search for the victim involved many of our local, state and federal partners, the trial this week also would not have been successful without these agencies. I am grateful for their hard work and dedication.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 12, 2019, Stallworth traveled in a Toyota Sequoia with a co-conspirator to the Tom Brown Village Housing Development located in Birmingham, Alabama, and kidnapped three-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney. Her body was found 10 days later.
“While today’s verdict does not take away the pain for Kamille’s family, or the void in their life that they can never fill, they at least know we are one step closer to justice being served on those responsible,” Rivera said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Birmingham Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Chief of the Criminal Division Lloyd C. Peeples and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Blake Milner and Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.