Renfroe pleads guilty to hindering prosecution
According to the Franklin County District Attorney’s office, a settlement has been reached in charges against Hailey Rose Renfroe.
Renfroe, 22, of Phil Campbell, was in March 2016 charged with aggravated child abuse following the death of infant daughter Serenity – for which Shannon Dale Gargis, 29, of Spruce Pine, was charged with capital murder.
But with the recent release of the official autopsy report from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, 14 months later, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said there was no proof to support that aggravated child abuse charge.
Aggravated child abuse, Rushing explained, requires abuse that continues over multiple occasions or on a single occasion that causes serious injury. Because the autopsy showed all Serenity’s injuries took place at or near the time of death, the DA’s potential for a case against Renfroe “disintegrated,” Rushing said.
“That caused our case against Ms. Renfroe to change,” Rushing said.
Over the past few months, however, Rushing said, it has come to light that Renfroe’s version of the details surrounding finding her daughter dead were not the truth. Rushing said Renfroe ultimately admitted to not telling the truth initially, which sent the investigation in the wrong direction.
Renfroe was indicted for hindering prosecution first degree, in the matter of her false statements related to the capital murder investigation against Gargis. In particular, Rushing said, Renfroe gave a false report regarding the location of the child’s body when Renfroe came into the house. Rushing could not elaborate on reasons why Renfroe didn’t tell the truth but said those details will come to light during Gargis’ trial, which should proceed in the near future.
Thursday Renfroe pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution first degree, which is a Class C felony. Renfroe was sentenced to six years, 18 months in community corrections and four years probation. It will be up to the Department of Corrections, Rushing said, how the 15 months Renfroe has served thus far will factor in.
Additionally, Renfroe “has agreed to fully cooperate and give truthful testimony” during Gargis’ trial, Rushing added.
