The 3-year-old Rome girl allegedly killed by her mother’s boyfriend had made allegations against him before her death. But the child’s mother did not protect her, Rome police said Thursday.

Kayla Medckie was arrested and charged with cruelty to children in the second degree for failing to protect her daughter, Gabriella Camp, according to Lt. Gary Clayton. “Ella” Camp had previously made allegations to Medckie about David Zachary Gresham, Clayton said.

In September, Gresham, Medckie's boyfriend, was charged with murder after Ella died at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. On Sept. 17, Ella was taken to Floyd Medical Center with severe head trauma and was unresponsive, police previously said.

Hospital officials contacted police and later that day, Ella was flown to Scottish Rite, where she died two days later.

Gresham was arrested on an unrelated probation violation after the child’s death, but charges were upgraded after an autopsy was performed. He remained in the Floyd County jail Thursday, where he is being held without bond.

Medckie was released from jail Thursday morning after posting $5,700 bond.

The investigation into the child’s death continues, Clayton said.

About the Author

Keep Reading

As the violence at Macon State Prison has intensified, so, too, have the calls for ambulance service. And because of those calls, the county now finds itself dealing with an unexpected and costly burden: more than $100,000 in unpaid bills. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Featured

People join a rally in support for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2025, at the Atlanta headquarters after federal cuts triggered significant layoffs. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Jenni Girtman