From The Tribune Staff Reports
TRUSSVILLE — A Trussville woman has been indicted for attempted murder. The indictment placed online on Monday revealed that the grand jury returned two indictments against Kala Blakely of Trussville. One for aggravated child abuse and another for attempted murder.
Count one of the indictment charged Blakely “with he intent to commit the crime of murder, as described by Section 13A-6-2, of the Code of Alabama, attempt to intentionally cause the death of (redacted) by committed overt act towards the commission of the crime of murder, to-wit: by medical neglect and/or strangulation and/or starvation and/or beating her, in violation of Section 13A-4-2, the Code of Alabama.”
Count two of the indictment charged Blakely as “having permanent or temporary care or custody or the responsibility for the supervision of (redacted) a child under the age of 18 years, did willfully torture, willfully abuse, cruelly beat or otherwise willfully maltreat said child by hitting her and/or stomping on her and/or refusing her medical treatment and/or starving her, said abuse having taken place on more than one occasion in violation of Section 26-15-3.1(a)(1).”
A months-long investigation has led to the arrest of a Kala Kameron Blakely of Trussville, according to a police report and jail records.
Blakely, 39, of Trussville, was charged with aggravated child abuse of a non-family member. Blakely was taken into custody at 5 p.m. and booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 12 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. She is being held without bond.
Blakely was arrested following a grand jury indictment, according to Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush.
“This investigation began months ago and it was an exhaustive investigation that involved interviewing multiple witnesses and medical professionals,” Rush said. “Our investigators turned the information over to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office and they took the case to the grand jury.”
The Trussville Police Department began an investigation into a possible child neglect case on Jan. 21, 2021, after being contacted by Jefferson County DHR.
Investigators received information that a 12-year-old Spanish-speaking child may be the victim of neglect, at the hands of her adoptive mother, according to a statement released by the Trussville Police Department.
After a joint investigation involving the Trussville Police Department, DHR, Prescott House and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, it was determined that the child showed signs of physical abuse as well as neglect, police said.
According to Trussville police, the child was originally admitted into Children’s of Alabama and upon release, investigators found the adoptive mother refused to follow doctor’s orders, according to a statement from TPD. The child also suffered bruises, scratches and lacerations on her spine, legs, arms, and feet, and had lost a significant amount of weight.
“The details of this investigation are very disturbing to me,” Rush said. “Our detectives took this case and did an excellent job in protecting this child from further abuse.”
Blakely is a UAB Assistant Professor, DNP, CRNP, NP-C, is a two-time alumna of UAB School of Nursing and board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, specializing in adult primary care, according to the school website. She operates Hometown Family Medicine in Moody.
Grand Jury indictments remain under seal until the indicted party is charged. Public records do not indicate an attorney representing Blakely that could be reached for comment.