Jekaris Lee Bryant
Written by Amanda Coers – The Capital Murder Trial of Jekaris Bryant continued Wednesday morning in the 35th District Court in Brownwood. District Attorney Micheal Murray and Assistant District Attorney Elisha Bird called multiple witnesses for the prosecution in the bench trial, presided by District Judge Stephen Ellis. Jekaris Bryant is accused of killing his 4 week old daughter, Breyla Ann Bryant by “shaking, squeezing.”
The morning continued with the testimony of Brownwood Police Officer Gary L. Villalpando, who arrived at the Brownwood Regional Medical Center Emergency Room shortly after a frantic 911 call alerting emergency services that baby Breyla wasn’t breathing.
The prosecution played recordings provided by the officer of the scene when he arrived. In the recordings, Breyla’s mother, Makahla Brewer, can be heard wailing in distress, overcome with grief, as the medical staff worked for 40 minutes to save her infant daughter. Alternatively the recordings revealed a very different demeanor from the infant’s father, accused Jekaris Bryant, who was relatively calm and able to answer the officer’s questions. The defense highlighted in cross-examination that the officer’s notes did state the Bryant was upset. The prosecution responded by asking officer Villalpando if he knew whether Bryant was upset that the baby had died, or because he had killed her.
The prosecution also called Brownwood Detective Harold Thomas who was also present at the hospital on December 13, 2015, the day of Breyla’s death. Thomas observed the baby after the medical team was unable to revive her and testified to seeing bruising under the infant’s chin, and on her chest near the collar bone. The detective also noted a “bad diaper rash,” and evidence photos displayed showed large blisters and scabs on the child’s bottom.
Detective Thomas was present as the infant’s family members were allowed to say their last goodbyes. The detective testified baby Breyla’s mother, Makahla, was extremely distraught, while Jekaris “didn’t seem to be that upset.”
After leaving the hospital, Jekaris and his father, Richard Bryant, accompanied the detective and investigators to Jekaris and Makahla’s apartment. Though instructed by the officers not to touch anything in the home, Jekaris touched the swing and blanket where baby Breyla was discovered not breathing.
When questioned about the day’s events, Jekaris never told investigators he was alone with the child. It has been established that in fact, Jekaris was alone with baby Breyla for approximately 30-40 minutes while the baby’s mother, Makahla, and her visiting friend, Jordan Brown, traveled to Walmart to purchase formula for the child. When questioned Jekaris told investigators he was in the shower while the mother was away. Jekaris claimed to have left the door open so he could hear if his daughter cried while he showered. He claimed to have been in the shower “the whole time” while Makahla and Jordan were at Walmart. Investigators noted on the day of Breyla’s death the shower showed no signs of moisture when they searched the home.
The prosecution also played recordings of phone calls from the Brown County Jail made by Jekaris to Makahla, and his father Richard, after he was arrested in connection to the infant’s death.
Throughout the four separate recordings, Jekaris seemed upset about being in jail and asked repeatedly for his father to get him out. When the prosecution asked Detective Thomas if Jekaris seemed more upset about being imprisoned in the recordings than he was on the day of his daughter’s death, he answered “yes.”
In one recorded jail conversation, Makahla asked Jekaris if he had told her the truth regarding their daughter’s death. He answered only, “I can’t talk about that right now.”
Also called by the prosecution was Makahla’s aunt, Charla Airheart, who was present at the hospital the day of baby Breyla’s death, and at the infant’s funeral. During both instances, Airheart noted Makahla was overcome with grief, often having difficultly standing. Airheart also testified Jekaris was “playing on his phone” while at the hospital as the medical team tried to revive his daughter. At the funeral, Airheart told the court, Jekaris was on the phone again, inviting people to “come on out, there’s plenty of food.” She told the prosecution he seemed nonchalant, cold, and uncaring.
The defense cross-examined Airheart, asking if she was a “grieving expert,” to which she replied, “I’m just telling you what I saw.”
Airheart also testified that Makahla had stayed with her for a week while she was seven months pregnant with Breyla after Jekaris had shoved her during an argument, in which Makahla broke her foot.
The court took a recess for lunch and continued at 1 p.m. with testimony from a Tarrant County Medical Examiner, Dr. Tasha Greenburg.
Before displaying photos from the autopsy, Judge Ellis warned the court the images could be disturbing, and members of the public present for the trial may wish to leave. As the autopsy photos were displayed on an overhead screen, the accused Jekaris hid his face behind his hands.
The photos showed large bruises on the infant’s collarbone, on the right and left sides. There was also bruising on her jawline, both right and left. Pictures of the child’s diaper rash were also displayed, showing wounds that looked similar to burn marks, with large scabs. Autopsy results revealed bleeding in the infant’s brain, spinal cord, retinal hemorrhaging with detached retinas noted. There was also a small scar on the baby’s right forearm. Multiple rib fractures were documented, with many from the day of her death, but at least four from a previous incident that had shown signs of healing. The medical examiner’s official cause of death was listed as, “multiple traumatic injuries involving head, chest, and neck.” These injuries were classified as “non-accidental trauma.”
Of particular note to Dr. Greenburg were the posterior rib fractures, which she described as “a red flag.” She testified the number of rib fractures and placement were not consistent with breaks that could be sustained during CPR efforts. Dr. Greenburg also testified there was no evidence of formula in the baby’s airway, nose, or lungs, and only a small (half a teaspoon) of formula found in the child’s stomach. Jekaris reportedly told investigators he had fed baby Breyla a bottle, and she had started choking, spitting up. He claims to have patted her back and “lightly shook” the infant in order to stop her from choking. Dr. Greenburg testified the child’s injuries could not have been sustained from what the accused described to investigators.
Also called by the prosecution was Dr. Dana Austin, a forensic anthropologist, and consultant for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office. Forensic anthropologists specialize in analyzing hard tissues such as bones for criminal cases. During her testimony, Dr. Austin explained the multiple rib fractures found in baby Breyla. When questioned, Dr. Austin told the prosecution it would take “excessive force,” to cause the fractures. She added, “If someone were to witness this event, they would clearly see the child in distress and in trouble.”
Dr. Austin also revealed during testimony that at least four of the rib fractures showed signs of healing, which suggested another trauma from approximately two weeks prior to the infant’s death.
Police reports do confirm an altercation between Jekaris and Makahla involving baby Breyla at the Law Enforcement Center two weeks prior to the infant’s death.
During that incident, Makahla drove to the Law Enforcement Center with Jekaris and Breyla in the car after Jekaris told the mother he would not allow her to take the child to Abilene where she was staying with her mother. Jekaris also allegedly told Makahla he would have his sister “beat her up.” When Makahla arrived at the Law Enforcement Center, Jekaris exited the vehicle, taking their two week old daughter with him into 30 degree weather, intending to walk to his father’s house with the child. He was stopped by police officers and there was a heated exchange before he finally released the child.
Court adjourned for the day at 5 p.m. and will resume at 9 a.m on Thursday, January 26th at the Brown County Courthouse. The prosecution expects to complete their presentation of evidence on Thursday, and the defense will begin to offer their case.
