Lanett Mother Charged with Murder following death 2-year-old toddler

On Thursday, July 17, 2026, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department reported that an investigation into the death of two-year-old Madilynn Hadaway, which occurred on June 12, 2026, has led to the arrest of her mother, Sierra Shay Hadaway, a 22-year-old from Lanett.

According to the CCSD, Hadaway has been charged with murder. “During the investigation, authorities learned that the child’s arms, legs, and ankles were bound, and she was placed face down on a bed for more than twelve hours. It is believed that the child died from asphyxiation,” stated the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department in a social media post.

A male suspect, identified as Christian Myles Sturkie, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 14, 2026.

Hadaway is currently being held at the Chambers County Detention Facility with no bond. This case remains under investigation by the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, the 5th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Science.