Mistrial Declared in Trial of Mother Accused in Death of 5-Year-Old

Overview

• The trial of Toni McClure, who is charged with murder, criminal confinement, and battery in her daughter Kinsleigh Welty’s 2024 death, ended without a verdict after the court found improper communications between a juror and a witness.
• Jurors heard graphic first-day testimony and viewed autopsy and crime-scene photos showing severe malnourishment, lice, fecal contamination and an autopsy weight of 21 pounds for the five-year-old.
• Prosecutors say McClure admitted to keeping Kinsleigh confined in a closet for months and argue the child died from prolonged, deliberate starvation and abuse.
• Two co-defendants, McClure’s then-boyfriend and her mother, accepted plea deals and are expected to testify for the prosecution in any retrial.
• The mistrial delays a final outcome after months of preparation and will require prosecutors to re-present evidence, with defense counsel signaling mitigation based on McClure’s background and medical history.