Two jailed for child's murder

An Aniah's Law hearing was scheduled Monday for a Monroeville woman and an Atmore man who have been charged with aggravated child abuse and murder following the death of the woman's 2-month old child.

Shelby Shyanne Comalander, 24, 1825 Clausell Road, Monroeville, and Larry William Jackson, 48, 239 Riley Road, Atmore, were both jailed without bond.

During bond hearings, District Attorney Steve Billy recommended no bond on Comalander and Jackson. District Judge Eric Coale ruled to hold both in the Escambia County Detention Center with no bond. Judge Coale scheduled a hearing yesterday (Wednesday) under Aniah's Law to see if the two will remain in jail with no bond until their trial.

Aniah's Law, passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2021, allows judges to set no bond on certain cases. Prior to the passage of the law only people charged with capital murder could be held without bond.

Aniah's Law was named after Ahiah Blanchard, 19, who was kidnapped and murdered by a man who was out on bond for kidnapping and attempted murder charges at the time of the crime against Blanchard.

Jackson is said to the stepfather and boyfriend of Comalander at the time of the child's death.

Court records state that on or about April 9, 2023, the two beat the child, born Jan. 1, 2023, which caused a fractured skull and brain bleeding. Records stated the abuse of the child began two to three weeks before the child's death and neither Comalander nor Jackson sought medical help for the child.

At the time of his arrest, Jackson was also charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

The investigation that led to the arrest of Jackson and Comalander was conducted by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Department of Human Resources.