Polkville Mother Charged with Capital Murder After Newborn’s Death

A Polkville mother has been charged with capital murder in the death of her newborn, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Jantelle Sharon Jordan, 25, of Polkville was arrested Friday, Nov. 13, after she came to the sheriff’s office for questioning about the infant’s death, Sheriff Joel Houston said.

First responders and sheriff’s deputies were called to a home in the Polkville community on Oct. 18, 2026, after Jordan gave birth and called emergency services asking for medical help for the newborn, according to the sheriff’s office. Jordan had given birth about an hour before responders arrived.

The newborn was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Jackson for evaluation. At the hospital, the infant developed medical complications that at first had no known cause. Doctors soon determined the newborn had suffered injuries after birth, the sheriff’s office said. Despite medical treatment, the baby died two days later.

The newborn was taken to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, where an autopsy found the cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was homicide.

Jordan was interviewed at the sheriff’s office on Nov. 13. She was arrested and charged with capital murder after the interview, Houston said.

“This is a horrific case for everyone involved in working on this investigation. These are the types of cases that are difficult for anyone to comprehend, especially when they involve the loss of an innocent child,” Houston said.

The case remains under active investigation. Investigators are continuing to gather and examine evidence, and the case will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution once the investigation is complete, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources rather than speculation, saying inaccurate reports can compromise an active investigation and affect the fairness of future court proceedings.