Custodial dad gets 40 years for murder of 2-year-old son (Searcy, Arkansas)

The "ex-girlfriend" mentioned towards the end is not the mother of the murdered child. According to one of our earlier posts, the mother lived elsewhere. In other words, killer dad JEFFERY CLIFTON was custodial.


See the Killer Dads and Custody list for Arkansas.


http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/ark-father-gets-40-years-for-sons-death/219170660


The Searcy father accused of killing his two-year-old son, Malik Drummond, gets 40 years in prison


Marielle Mohs , KTHV 10:23 PM. EST May 27, 2016


SEARCY, Ark. (KTHV) – The Searcy father accused of killing his two-year-old son, Malik Drummond, received a sentence of 40 years in prison on Friday.


Attorneys struck a deal for a lower sentence and Jeffery Clifton took advantage of it. Clifton avoided a murder trial, and the possibility of a life sentence or death penalty.


He was charged back in December 2015 with capital murder and abuse of a corpse.


On Friday, he pled ‘no contest,’ settling for two consecutive sentences, adding up to 40 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.


He agreed to a second degree murder charge and abuse of a corpse.


“It's treated as a guilty plea for purposes of the law,” said Ronald Davis Jr., defense attorney. In the eyes of the court, he's found guilty, but he's not saying he did anything wrong.


“He's not admitting or taking responsibility for those actions in terms of if he actually committed them or not,” said Davis.


Prosecutor Rebecca McCoy and Davis struck a deal.


“He admitted that we had enough evidence to find him guilty,” said McCoy.


Two-year-old Malik Drummond disappeared November 23, 2014.


Hundreds of people statewide joined in on the search.


“The whole community was involved and got emotionally involved in this case,” said McCoy.


Clifton was arrested a year later in December 2015.


The only thing he admits to is burying Malik’s body in rural Jackson County.


“There’s a difference in disposing of a body and causing the death of a body,” said Davis.


McCoy satisfied with the settlement, but doesn't want this case to be forgotten.


“I hope that it's not the end. I hope the community is always aware of child abuse and hopefully can step in and prevent things like this from happening in the future,” said McCoy.


Clifton will be eligible for parole, but details as to when are unknown at this time.


His ex-girlfriend, Leslie Marcotte was also arrested and charged with helping covering up Malik’s death.


Her pre-trial starts in June. Stay with THV11 and THV11.com for more details as this story develops.