Mother sentenced to life for 2015 murder of 2-year-old daughter Macy Grace

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — After more than a decade of waiting, Macy Grace Ditty’s family finally has the verdict they fought for.

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A Cumberland County Superior Court jury found Jeanie Ditty guilty of first-degree murder and felonious child abuse in the 2015 death of her 2-year-old daughter. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching its verdict.

A judge sentenced Ditty to life in prison without parole for murder, followed by 157 to 201 months for the child abuse conviction. Macy died on Dec. 4, 2015, just days before her third birthday.

According to prosecutors, paramedics rushed Macy to Cape Fear Valley Regional Medical Center in December 2015. Medical staff found extensive bruising and trauma. A CT scan showed non-survivable brain injuries that prosecutors said occurred within the previous 8 to 24 hours.

At the time, Macy’s parents were both active-duty U.S. Army soldiers. Her father was deployed overseas.

Macy was transferred to UNC Pediatric Hospital and kept on life support until her father could return from deployment. Days later, after her father returned to the States, she was taken off life support on Dec. 4 and died.

An autopsy later determined that Macy died from blunt force trauma. A state forensic pathologist testified during the trial that Macy suffered at least 40 separate physical blows.

A decade-long fight for justice

Macy’s death was ruled a homicide in March 2016, and Ditty was arrested and charged. Her first trial in 2020 ended with a hung jury after jurors reportedly voted 10-2 in favor of guilt.

The retrial began with jury selection August 10, 2026. Sixteen witnesses testified for the state, including doctors and nurses who treated Macy. Prosecutors also presented evidence involving people who had interacted with Ditty before Macy’s death.

Macy’s paternal grandmother, Tina Goodwin, has spent the last decade pushing for justice for her granddaughter. She told CBS17’s Justin Moore that the second trial brought evidence she had never seen before.

“A lot of the evidence I didn’t know existed. That could have put her away ten years ago,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin also described the injuries Macy suffered.

“The only part of her body which didn’t have a bruise was this part of her face.”

Goodwin said Macy’s injuries forced the family to confront painful details about the toddler’s final days.

“This baby was on life support for 48 hours until her daddy got home to take her off of life support,” Goodwin said.

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‘Justice has finally been served’

Following the verdict and sentencing, Goodwin went to the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, where Macy is buried.

There, family members released 10 balloons — one for every year they had waited for justice.

“We released 10 balloons for ten years of fighting the justice system. Justice has been served, Macy Grace. You can rest now,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin said the moment brought a sense of closure after years of grief.

“She’s in heaven with God. She’s not broken. All her injuries healed. She’s running up there. She’s getting all the candy she wants and she’s smiling.”

Goodwin said she believes Macy’s death should never define the little girl’s life.

“All she ever wanted was love from her mother,” Goodwin said. “All she got was in that grave over there.”

Macy’s godmother, Caitlin Mairena, also remembered the toddler and the relationship they shared.

“I was her mother figure from the day that she was born and she taught me everything on how to be a mom,” Mairena said.

Ditty files appeal

Immediately after the verdict, prosecutors said Ditty caused a disturbance in the courtroom, shouting and cursing at people present. Multiple law enforcement officers were needed to restrain her before sentencing, according to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.

Ditty has filed an appeal with the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

The case was prosecuted by Lisa Coltrain and Whitney Belich of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, with assistance from Megan Livey and retired prosecutor Julia Hejazi.

“This verdict reflects years of extraordinary perseverance by a team that never lost sight of who this case was about: Macy,” Kimberly Spahos, director of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, said.

For Goodwin, who is also known to the family as Bama Nana, the verdict means she can finally move forward with healing while carrying the memory of the granddaughter she lost.

Goodwin said, “She’s looking down on her Nana and saying, ‘You fought a good battle, Nana. You got my voice heard.”

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