A judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the trial of Kianna Davis, a 35-year-old mother charged in connection with the 2020 death of her 2-year-old son, after jurors reported they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Superior Court Judge Katherine Lumsdon released the jury following extended deliberations and a review of the evidence.
“The jurors have stated that we will have the same result on Monday. No further deliberations are needed… So, based on that, I’m going to declare a mistrial and excuse this jury,” Lumsdon said.
The charges against Davis stemmed from the Nov. 17, 2020 death of her toddler, Karter Ambrose. According to medical examiner findings released during the investigation, the child died from a blunt-force injury to the abdomen and a lacerated liver. Davis originally brought the toddler to a pediatrician’s office that day because he was experiencing vomiting and abdominal pain.
Autopsy reports later determined that the fatal injuries were inflicted within three days of that medical visit. Three years after the child’s death, authorities arrested Davis and her former boyfriend, Kiyon Benton, in connection with the case.
Davis faced seven counts, including malice murder, felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault, second-degree murder, and second-degree cruelty to children.
During the trial, prosecutors relied on circumstantial evidence to argue that the child’s injuries were not accidental. Davis testified in her own defense, stating that Benton would never have harmed her son.
Daycare workers who had cared for the child since he was 9 months old testified that they had never observed physical signs of abuse. The child’s father also took the stand, testifying that Davis told him he could not see or speak with his son the day before the boy died.
A date for Davis’s retrial has not yet been set by the court. Benton is expected to stand trial separately, with proceedings potentially beginning as early as November.
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