Today’s update is, above all else, incredibly disappointing.

On Saturday, November 27, 2021, at 1:08 AM, police in Atlanta, Georgia responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 85 northbound at Cheshire Bridge Road, where they found a man lying in the roadway with a motorcycle several feet north of him. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kylie was born with 1p36 deletion syndrome, which is a chromosome disorder, typically suffer severe intellectual disabilities, and most speak very few words, if any. Most affected have structural abnormalities of the brain, some have behavioral issues such as biting themselves or throwing temper tantrums, and more than half endure seizures. The disorder causes weak muscle tone, swallowing difficulties, a small head and distinctive facial features, vision and hearing problems; abnormalities of the skeleton, heart, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, or genitalia. Treatment for those with the disorder depends on their individual symptoms. 

When Kylie arrived at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton, Georgia on June 7, 2020, Kylie weighed a scant seven pounds, which is the size of an average newborn. Medical staff contacted the Hall County Sheriff’s Office to report potential medical neglect. Meanwhile, Kylie was flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital at Scottish Rite, where she died the following day.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Hall County Division of Family & Children Services, launched an investigation into this sweet little girl’s death, which included interviews, searches of the family’s home on Rustic Pine Lane in Buford, and an autopsy by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner’s Office. Kylie’s death was ruled a homicide caused by dehydration and malnutrition due to medical neglect.

On Tuesday, October 27, Kylie’s father, 31-year-old Jerrail Maurice Mickens, and her mother, 29-year-old Porscha Danielle Mickens (nee Pitts), were arrested and charged with felony murder and first degree cruelty to children. Prosecutors alleged in the indictment documents that Kylie was deprived of “necessary sustenance to the extent that her health and wellbeing was jeopardized” and that her parents withheld “appropriate medical treatment.”

The couple shares two other children, an 8-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, both of whom are reportedly in good physical condition and perfectly healthy.

In November of 2020, Superior Court Judge Katherine Gosselin granted Jerrail Mickens a bond of $150,000 and Porscha a bond of $50,000. Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of the couple’s bond, “It was not a consensual order on our part, but we told the judge if she were inclined to grant bond that we would suggest high bond amounts with stringent conditions.”

Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh confirmed with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office that the victim of Saturday’s motorcycle crash was indeed Jerrail Mickens. He said the case against Porscha will continue, telling the AJC, “The fact of the matter is his wife is also charged, and we will continue the case against her.”

The investigation is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A true bill of indictment against the couple was filed on October 27, 2021. On November 17, both Jerrail and Porscha filed multiple motions, although no details are available and no future court date has apparently been set.

I’m deeply disappointed that Jerrail no longer has to face justice for the prolonged torture Kylie suffered. This is one of the main reason I strongly believe that under no circumstances should anyone charged with murder be granted bond.

Regardless, I look forward to Kylie getting her justice. One thing is certain : she will never be forgotten.

Click here for my ongoing coverage of Kylie’s story.

Sources: The Gainesville Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution