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Murder of Dominiqua Bryant

In 1990, 28-year-old Patricia Blackmon adopted 19-month-old Dominiqua Bryant. People who saw the two together thought Blackmon was a great parent with a good relationship with the growing girl.
A woman employed by the Department of Human Services checked in on the two once a month for five months and never noticed any issues.

Unfortunately, things weren’t as they seemed, and Blackmon had a dark side.

On May 29th, 1991, Blackmon contacted 911 and told them that Dominiqua was not breathing.

The first responder arrived at Patricia’s Dothan, Alabama trailer to a horrendous sight. The toddler was wearing a diaper and blood-soaked socks, and she was covered in vomit.

She also had a large bump on her forehead. Dominqua was transported to the hospital as medical personnel tried to save her. Less than an hour later, she was pronounced dead.

Doctors observed several bruises all over the young girl and an imprint of a shoe sole on her chest. She also had a couple of broken bones and some old injuries that were healing.

It was clear that the girl had been abused for some time, and her death was not natural or accidental.

Blackmon was arrested the same day.

Legal Proceedings

At trial, a medical examiner testified that the shoe print on Bryant’s chest matched the sandals that Blackmon was wearing the day of the murder.

He also surmised that some of the toddler’s injuries were from being beaten with a pool stick.

Blackmon’s defense team said the child sustained the injuries after she fell off the bed.

Her neighbor testified that she frequently left her two children with Blackmon, and they always came home safe.

The jury didn’t buy what her defense team was selling, and they convicted her of capital murder. They sentenced her to death in a 10 to 2 vote.

She is currently one of five women on death row in Alabama.