South Carolina mother Jackleen Mullen is sentenced to 30 years behind bars after her four-year-old disabled daughter was beaten to death by her boyfriend and then stuffed in the drawer of her dresser

A South Carolina mother was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of homicide for killing her disabled four-year-old daughter with her boyfriend.  

Jackleen Mullen, 26, was found guilty of homicide by child abuse and aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse. The court did not find her guilty of murder. 

Her daughter, India Heavenly Lacey Martin, had special needs and was unable to talk and could not walk without assistance.

When she was reported missing, police went to the house where Mullen and her boyfriend, Audrevious Williams, lived with India to question them about the child's whereabouts in May 2020. 

Authorities said that Mullen lied about her daughter's whereabouts and that she was visiting a relative's house, the Rock Hill Herald reports. 

Jackleen Mullen, 26, was found guilty of homicide by child abuse and aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse. The court did not find her guilty of murder

Police later said the mother 'showed no emotion' during the investigation or when the child's body was discovered

Body cam footage shows the police ask: 'You want to go to jail for murder. Where's that child? She's dead and we know it.'

'My kid's not dead,' Mullen replied in the video, 'My kid is at Cindy's house.'

But further investigation revealed that India's body had been stuffed into a dresser drawer in their bedroom. 

A medical examiner determined that her cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. 

Police later said the mother 'showed no emotion' during the investigation or when the child's body was discovered.

Detective Keenan McCrorey said in court during Mullen's trial: 'Officers were able to make contact with those family members, who confirmed India was not with them at the time. 

'Mullen showed no emotion when confronted with this information and continued to insist India was in North Carolina.' 

Williams has also been charged with homicide and murder. He is expected to be on the stand this week. 

During Mullen's trial, prosecutors also told the court that she came to police headquarters and admitted to forgery in a separate case while still lying about her daughter's death

Audrevious Williams has also been charged with homicide and murder. He is expected to be on the stand this week

According to CN2, Mullen faced charges after her child was born premature and tested positive for cocaine in 2016. 

Court testimony revealed Mullen and Williams share a one-year-old child, and both parents have children from previous relationships. 

The judge has ordered that neither of them can have any contact with any of their children while the case is pending. 

During Mullen's trial, prosecutors also told the court that she came to police headquarters and admitted to forgery in a separate case while still lying about her daughter's death. 

Deputy Solicitor of the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office John Anthony said: 'While her child was dead in her house, Ms. Mullen came down here to the Moss Justice Center and pleaded guilty to that forgery.'

Mullen has been allowed by the court to serve her sentences consecutively and will have to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence before requesting parole, according to state law.