In May of 2020, in Center Point, Alabama, a two-year-old boy named Demetric Hampton Jr. lost his life under tragic and disturbing circumstances. First responders were called to a home in the 1600 block of 6th Street North West in the early morning hours of May 13th for a report of a child who was not breathing. At the scene, the boy's father, Demetric Hampton Sr., told authorities that his son had started choking while eating.
He claimed to have cleared the child's airway and initiated life-saving measures.
Upon being transported to a Birmingham hospital, the toddler was pronounced dead. However, the medical examination revealed a story far more sinister than a simple choking incident. Doctors discovered that Demetric Jr. had sustained multiple severe injuries and burns that were inconsistent with the father's account. This grim discovery prompted an immediate investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation led to the swift arrest of Demetric Hampton Sr., who was 26 at the time, and the boy's stepmother, 24-year-old Terrica Harris. Initially, Hampton Sr. was charged with murder and aggravated child abuse, while Harris faced a charge of aggravated child abuse. As the case progressed through the legal system, the severity of the charges against the father escalated. A year after his son's death, in May 2021, a grand jury indicted Demetric Hampton Sr. on the more serious charge of capital murder, in addition to the aggravated child abuse charge. Terrica Harris was also indicted on an aggravated child abuse charge. Both were held in the Jefferson County Jail.
