More than 10 years after the death of a 2-year-old North Carolina girl, her mother has been sentenced to life in prison for her murder.
Jeanie Kassandra Ditty, 33, was convicted of first-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of her daughter, Macy Grace Ditty.
The conviction brings an end to a case that has stretched across more than a decade and included two trials, multiple arrests and a hung jury.
Ditty will now spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole.
She was also sentenced to between 157 and 201 months for felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury.
Macy’s final hours
Macy was taken to Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center in December 2015 after suffering extensive injuries.
The 2-year-old arrived at the hospital covered in bruises. Medical professionals determined that she had “suffered at least 40 separate physical blows” within a 24-hour period, according to prosecutors.
Macy died two days later.
Ditty was arrested in 2016. She was initially charged with first-degree murder and negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury.
Ditty’s live-in boyfriend, Zachary Keefer, was also arrested in connection with the case.
However, prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges against Keefer after investigators concluded that he had not been present when the abuse took place.
A troubling explanation after Macy’s death
Investigators would later learn about an unusual conversation Ditty had with a photographer approximately one month after Macy died.
On January 4, 2016, Ditty contacted photographer Sunny Jo to ask about creating photographs featuring herself and her daughter.
Jo offered a service called “One More Time,” which digitally places a deceased person into photographs with their loved ones. The images are intended to create the impression that the deceased person is still present, almost like an angel.
Jo had reportedly heard about Macy’s death and offered the service to Ditty at no cost.
Some of the photographs would have shown Macy alongside her mother in a cemetery. But Ditty allegedly told Jo that her daughter had died in a very different way.
“She told me her daughter had passed away by choking on a banana, and that choking gave her seizures which made her lose oxygen to the brain and then she passed away,” Jo told WRAL, according to VT.
Jo later provided police with the information Ditty had given him. Ditty turned herself in on March 24, 2016.
Jurors reached a verdict in under three hours
Ditty’s first trial took place in 2020, but the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision. Jurors reportedly voted 10-2 in favor of a guilty verdict, resulting in a hung jury.
The case eventually returned to court for a retrial this month.
Sixteen witnesses testified during the proceedings, including medical professionals who had treated Macy.
Witnesses also gave accounts of Ditty’s behavior toward her daughter, with some saying they had witnessed her acting aggressively toward the toddler and had attempted to intervene.
This time, jurors reached a decision. They considered for less than three hours before finding Ditty guilty.
The first-degree murder conviction resulted in a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
Officers had to restrain Ditty
Prosecutors said Ditty “created a severe disturbance in the courtroom, cursing and shouting at individuals present” as the jurors were leaving.
Several officers reportedly stepped in to restrain her. Ditty was placed in handcuffs and leg irons before the sentencing proceeded.
Macy’s paternal grandmother and maternal great-aunt also spoke during the sentencing hearing, delivering victim impact statements about the little girl.
Special Prosecutor Lisa Coltrain said Macy’s family had gone through years dealing with the loss while continuing to seek justice.
“Macy was a precious toddler who was loved by so many people,” Coltrain said, according to VT.
“They carried the grief of losing Macy while always continuing to fight for her story to be told and justice to be served, and though it was a long road, it finally reached a conclusion.”
Coltrain also commended the jurors for their handling of what she described as a difficult case, saying they showed “deepest respect and appreciation” as they worked to determine the truth.
Kimberly Spahos, director of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, highlighted the lengthy effort that went into bringing the case to its conclusion.
“This verdict reflects years of extraordinary perseverance by a team that never lost sight of who this case was about: Macy,” she claimed.
“Their work ensured that Macy’s story was told, that her voice was heard, and that the evidence was presented with the care, skill, and determination this case demanded.”
Spahos added: “Justice was a long time coming for Macy, but I am grateful it was finally realized.”
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