Morgan County couple found guilty of murder in 17-month-old boy's 2014 death

Hayes Hickman | Knoxville

Show Caption Hide Caption Morgan County couple found guilty of murder in 2014 death of toddler A Morgan County mother and her boyfriend both have been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2014 death of her 17-month-old son, Levi Beaty.

A Morgan County mother and her boyfriend both have been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2014 death of her 17-month-old son, Levi Beaty.

A Loudon County jury also returned guilt verdicts against Amanda Beaty and Roger Dale Prince II on charges of felony murder, and a charge of child endangerment against Beaty, following a week-long trial Tuesday.

Criminal Court Judge Jeff Wicks sentenced both defendants to mandatory life sentences. Beaty is set for a sentencing hearing Jan. 22 on the child endangerment conviction.

The trial was held in Loudon at the defendants' request for a change of venue.

A Morgan County sheriff's deputy responded to the couple's Wartburg apartment June 1, 2014 to find Levi unresponsive.

Amanda Beaty and Prince claimed the child had choked on a cookie, although there was no evidence the child had been eating.

An autopsy later determined the toddler had died from multiple blunt-force trauma injuries, including a spinal fracture and severe damage to his thoracic aorta artery.

District Attorney General Russell Johnson publicly criticized then-sheriff Glen Freytag for assuming the death was accidental and for failing to immediately notify the medical examiner, the state Department of Children's Services or Johnson's office.

Johnson subsequently requested that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conduct a homicide investigation.

It was later revealed Levi and his three siblings had been removed from their mother's custody twice in the year before the boy's death amid a DCS investigation into previous signs of abuse.

In a July 2014 interview with the News Sentinel, Beaty claimed her son had a blood disorder that weakened his health. She also said her 6-year-old son had accidentally dropped Levi months earlier, breaking his collarbone.

At the time of Levi's death, Beaty had an active court order prohibiting her from allowing Prince to be in the home or around the boy.

The trial repeatedly was delayed by multiple changes of defense attorney by Prince, as well as the change of venue.