Jury selection begins today in the trial of Tyler Witham-Jordan, a Maine man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter, Makinzlee Handrahan, on Christmas Day 2022. The case, marked by allegations of abuse and neglect, has drawn significant attention due to the harrowing details surrounding the toddler’s death.
The Charges
Witham-Jordan, 31, faces charges of murder with depraved indifference in Makinzlee’s death. He has pleaded not guilty, attempting to deflect blame onto the child’s mother. Prosecutors allege that he subjected the toddler to repeated abuse that ultimately led to her tragic death.
Christmas Day Tragedy
First responders were called to the family’s home at approximately 7:30 a.m. on December 25, 2022, where they found Makinzlee unresponsive, bruised, and cold to the touch. According to a police affidavit, one EMT described her extensive bruising as resembling “a Dalmatian dog.”
The child was rushed to Lincoln Health’s Miles Campus in Damariscotta, where she was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide, citing multiple injuries, including bruises on her face, ear, head, back, and stomach, as well as rug burns on her chin and nose. Clumps of her hair were missing, and her stomach was filled with blood.
A Troubled History
Records reveal that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) had investigated the family just two months before the toddler’s death. Daycare workers had reported visible bruising and scratches on Makinzlee, prompting a DHHS visit. Witham-Jordan and the child’s mother reportedly attributed her injuries to a fall down the stairs and scratches from a cat.
On the day of the 911 call, the mother can be heard crying, “Oh my god, I think my daughter’s dead,” while Witham-Jordan reportedly shouted, “I’m f*****” and “I’m finished,” according to court documents.
The Trial Ahead
As jury selection proceeds, the trial is expected to bring further scrutiny to the tragic circumstances of Makinzlee’s death and the failures in her protection. Prosecutors will present evidence of systemic abuse and argue that Witham-Jordan acted with depraved indifference.
Defense attorneys, meanwhile, are likely to continue their strategy of redirecting blame toward the child’s mother, suggesting she was equally culpable in failing to protect her daughter.
Community Outrage
Makinzlee’s death has sparked widespread outrage and demands for accountability, with critics pointing to gaps in DHHS investigations and child welfare protocols.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in safeguarding vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. Advocates hope the trial will serve as a wake-up call for stronger intervention and oversight in cases of suspected child abuse.
The trial will officially begin following the completion of jury selection.
