Alabama mother gets 25 years in prison for toddler son’s ‘horrifying’ 2019 death

A Blount County woman has pleaded guilty to the 2019 death of her toddler son.

Samantha McCormack, 29, admitted guilt on Monday to felony murder during child abuse. Her 18-month-old son, Enzo McCormack, died in 2019.

Her boyfriend at the time, 32-year-old Robert Keith Elmore Jr., was convicted last year of capital murder in Enzo’s death and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Elmore was also found guilty of aggravated child abuse of Enzo’s brother, Jesse McCormack.

Court documents reveal that McCormack willfully mistreated Enzo by leaving him in the care of Elmore, who was known to be abusive toward the child.

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey announced McCormack's 25-year prison sentence.

“This story is horrifying. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering this child endured before succumbing to his injuries,’’ Casey said.

“I cannot understand someone doing what Elmore did,’’ she continued. “But, as a mother, I cannot understand how a mother could leave their child in the care of someone the mother knows to have been abusive to the child.”

On September 6, 2019, at 7 p.m., Blount County authorities responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child at Locust Fork Hardware Store.

Emergency personnel from the Locust Fork Volunteer Fire Department found Enzo in respiratory distress, with fixed and dilated pupils, and his body already limp and cold to the touch.

Blount County EMS transported Enzo to the Locust Fork Volunteer Fire Department, where a helicopter was waiting to airlift him to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. He died days later.

During Elmore’s 2023 trial, Sgt. Chris Hollomon testified that he obtained a statement from McCormack at the Hardware Store. She claimed she had been home alone with the children when she heard a thump in the living room while using the restroom. McCormack found Enzo choking on a piece of cereal and decided to take him to the hospital later that evening.

On her way to the store, McCormack stopped for cigarettes and gasoline. She met Heather Elmore, Robert Elmore Jr.’s sister at the store. Heather testified that she found Enzo limp and cold to the touch, and the two women moved him into the store and called 911.

Medics testified that Enzo could not breathe on his own and had to be intubated.

Authorities from the Blount County Department of Human Resources transported Enzo’s twin sister and older brother, Jesse, to Children’s of Alabama for evaluation. Caseworker Haley Jenkins testified that she stayed by Enzo’s bedside throughout the night.

Blount County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Hull testified about his interviews with McCormack and Elmore after the children were taken to the hospital. Elmore claimed that he dropped Enzo when the child pulled his chest hair but did not provide details about the origin of Enzo’s injuries. He said the child had no bruises when he got out of bed at 1 p.m. that day.

Dr. Michael Taylor testified that Enzo suffered blunt force trauma and severe acceleration and deceleration injuries from being violently shaken. Enzo remained on a ventilator until Sept. 9, 2019, when doctors determined he had no measurable brain activity and no further measures could be taken to save him. Dr. Taylor stated that Enzo’s injuries did not align with Elmore’s story.

Dr. Taylor also examined Jesse, finding a skull fracture with arterial bleeding and swelling. Jesse was hospitalized, with bruises behind his ears indicating a recent skull fracture.

Dr. Valerie Green, a forensic pathologist, performed an autopsy on Enzo, revealing multiple contusions on his scalp and severe retinal hemorrhages, consistent with violent shaking.

Elmore’s phone records showed he sent a message at 5:41 p.m. on Sept. 6, informing McCormack that Enzo "ain’t breathing right...he is limp...and almost blue." Prosecutors argued that Elmore intentionally and violently shook Enzo, subjected him to blunt force trauma, and denied him proper medical care for over an hour, intending for the child to die.