Home / Crime and Justice / Soldier jailed for daughter's 2015 death after retrial
Soldier jailed for daughter's 2015 death after retrial
22 Aug
Summary
- Mother convicted of murder and child abuse after a decade.
- Jury found her guilty of first-degree murder in 2015 death.
- Sentenced to life without parole for her daughter's murder.
Jeanie Kassandra Ditty, a former Fort Bragg soldier, has been convicted of first-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Macy Grace Ditty. The Cumberland County jury returned the guilty verdict on August 20, 2026, over a decade after the child's death in December 2015. This conviction follows a previous trial in March 2020 that resulted in a hung jury.
Ditty received a sentence of life in prison without parole for the murder charge, with additional time for the child abuse conviction. The autopsy revealed Macy suffered multiple blows, including eight to 10 strikes to the head and numerous bruises, leading the medical examiner to rule her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Ditty has indicated her intent to appeal the verdict.
Beyond the murder conviction, Ditty faces a separate felony child-abuse charge in Onslow County for allegedly injuring another 2-year-old daughter between January 25 and February 8, 2026. This situation highlights a pattern of alleged abuse, with the victim's great-aunt advocating for child protection and ensuring Macy's memory endures through a dedicated Facebook page.
