Ky. man charged with murder in toddler’s death accused of smothering another infant 3 years ago

WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (TCD) -- A 22-year-old man accused of strangling and killing a 3-year-old girl this year was recently charged with allegedly smothering an infant in 2020.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Jordan Blake Taylor was indicted Aug. 3 on a murder charge for allegedly smothering a 6-month-old in 2020. He will be arraigned on the charge this month.

Taylor, however, was arrested in February after the 3-year-old died at a local hospital. He is currently in custody at the Whitley County Jail on charges of murder, third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree sodomy, and first-degree strangulation.

According to a statement, on Feb. 11, Whitley County EMS responded to a home after receiving a call about an unresponsive 3-year-old child. Medics transported the victim to Baptist Health Corbin, where the child was pronounced dead. WKYT-TV identified the child as Amoura Smallwood.

Kentucky State Police detectives arrested Taylor, but two months later, Smallwood’s mother, Alexandra Ward, was also taken into custody. Ward is being charged with murder and strangulation.

Whitley County Sheriff Bill Elliotte told WKYT Smallwood had "bruises on all areas of the body, not just one area," and that they were in "different stages of healing."

MORE:

• Kentucky man indicted in another murder case, faces charges in 2 children’s deaths - Lexington Herald-Leader
• Man facing murder charge in death of young child, 2/20/2023 - WKYT
• Kentucky mom now facing charges in connection with death of child, 4/17/2023 - WKYT
• Whitley County Detention Center inmate information