On Wednesday, January 27, 2021, a second individual was charged in the case of a babysitter accused of murdering the two-year-old daughter of a close friend while the girl was in her care.

29-year-old Kirstie Flood, who had been Fallon Fridley’s regular babysitter since August and a friend of Fallon’s mother, Kristin Fridley Gantt, for about five years, was arrested two days after Fallon’s death on December 9, 2020. Kirstie told investigators that Fallon hit her head on a slide at the playground earlier in the day and became unresponsive later that evening at Kirstie’s apartment on Monterey Parkway in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Fallon was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she was pronounced dead.

According to Sandy Springs police, Fallon “suffered severe injuries that resulted in her death during her care by the suspect,” consisting of a massive skull fracture and lacerations to several internal organs, including her liver, spleen, and colon. 

The doctor who treated her said, “a child with those types of injuries would not physically be able to walk around or function. This indicates that the injuries were inflicted relatively close to when the child was found.”

Official documents also noted that Fallon was bleeding from the vagina and anus, possibly indicating sexual abuse. Fallon’s death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

Damning internet searches performed over a one-minute span were found on Kirstie’s phone during the investigation, including searches for “what type of people enjoy abusing other people’s children,” “why do people abuse,” and “what does it mean to have a sudden urge to beat a child that’s not yours.”

Kirstie also searched for “mental help” and “I hit my child and I feel guilty.” I’d bet a good amount of money that she didn’t actually feel guilty; any remorse she felt was likely for herself when she realized that Fallon’s injuries would be impossible to hide or explain away.

Last week, 28-year-old Jeffrey Scott Meyers, who is Kirstie’s boyfriend and the father of her eight-month-old son, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children. Kirstie also has a four-year-old daughter.

The arrest warrant for Jeffrey indicated that he was present in the Monterey Parkway apartment when Fallon’s fatal injuries occurred. 

Sandy Springs Police Detective William Delaney wrote in the warrant, “After reviewing the totality of the information gained during the investigation, specifically the timeline of the infliction of the injuries to the time that the child was incapacitated was moments, Mr. Meyers was present and witness to the alleged abuse.”

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In the warrant, Detective Delaney described bruising all over Fallon’s head, on her abdomen, and on her arms and legs, including her elbows. 

Police apparently do not believe Jeffrey inflicted any of the injuries on Fallon. The affidavit states that nonetheless, “he had a duty to protect the child from the assault and intervene on her behalf.

“My Meyers appeared on video interacting with the child in a loving manner, and by his own admission, the child victim was like a family member. By his inaction, the child sustained multiple injuries that resulted in the child victim’s death.”

Jeffrey was arrested on January 6 for a probation violation and has been held since that date in the Fulton County Jail. On the new charges, he was denied bond; Kirstie has also been denied bond on her charges of malice murder, first degree cruelty to children, aggravated battery, and two counts of felony murder.

Anyone with information about Fallon’s case should contact Detective Delaney at wdelaney@sandyspringsga.gov or by phone at (770) 551-3313.

A GoFundMe page benefiting Kristin Fridley Gantt has, as of this writing, raised $60,550 of its $65,000 goal, which is intended to give Kristin time off work to process and mourn the death of her only child. Kristin has created a Facebook page, Justice for Fallon, where she posts frequent photos, videos, and updates about her daughter’s case and her efforts to work toward justice for Fallon. Kristin and her husband, Cameron Gantt, who Fallon called Daddy, will appear on Dr. Phil’s television show on Tuesday, February 2. The episode is scheduled to air at 3:00 PM.

Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Law & Crime, Justice for Fallon on Facebook, DrPhil.com