Maine Man Found Guilty of Depraved Indifference Murder in Tragic Christmas Day Death of Three Year Old Girl

Tyler Witham-Jordan was found guilty of murdering 3-year-old Makinzlee Handrahan on Christmas Day 2022 after a trial in Sagadahoc County, Maine.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 6:24 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from WABI-TV

Jury Delivers Verdict in High Profile Murder Trial

The Maine Attorney General’s Office has confirmed the conviction of Tyler Witham-Jordan for the murder of a three year old girl in a case that has deeply affected the local community. Following a trial held in Sagadahoc County, the jury found the Edgecomb resident guilty of depraved indifference murder in connection with the death of Makinzlee Handrahan. The verdict brings a conclusion to a lengthy legal process involving a previous mistrial and a change of venue. Witham-Jordan was the domestic partner of the victim's mother at the time of the fatal incident, which occurred during the early hours of Christmas Day in 2022.

Forensic Evidence and the Prosecution’s Case

Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented a range of forensic and circumstantial evidence that they argued pointed directly to Witham-Jordan as the sole perpetrator. Critical to the case was the discovery of the defendant’s DNA in highly incriminating locations, including the upper waistband of the victim's bloodied diaper and underneath her fingernails. Investigators also recovered a broken hairbrush from the scene which contained large clumps of the child’s hair, suggesting a violent struggle. The state contended that these physical findings, combined with the defendant's presence in the home, left no doubt as to his responsibility for the fatal injuries sustained by the toddler.

Withdrawal and Domestic Volatility as Motive

The prosecution’s narrative focused on the defendant’s physical and mental state on the morning of the murder, describing a scene of extreme agitation. Evidence was introduced suggesting that Witham-Jordan was experiencing acute opioid withdrawal on that Christmas morning, a condition that left him angry and volatile. Prosecutors argued that this frustration was directed toward his girlfriend’s children, eventually leading to the lethal assault on Makinzlee. This context of substance abuse and domestic instability was central to the state's argument that the defendant acted with a depraved indifference to human life, a specific legal threshold required for the murder charge.