Mother of slain toddler Malik Drummond held in threats

Witness says Searcy woman threatened state caseworker

The mother of a toddler whose father is charged with murdering him remained jailed Thursday after being accused of threatening a child-welfare worker.

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Tanya Drummond, 26, of Searcy was arrested earlier this week on a charge of second-degree terrorist threatening.

Drummond is the mother of 2-year-old Malik Drummond, who police say was beaten to death by his father, Jeffery Clifton, 43, of Searcy in November 2014. Malik and his twin sister, Aryanna, lived with their mother but had been visiting their father at the time of Malik's death.

According to an affidavit filed in White County District Court, Tiffany Wright, an employee with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, told police Feb. 19 that she had learned of a threat Drummond made toward her.

Joe Jernigan, a court-appointed special advocate, or CASA worker, told investigators that he was following Drummond and her mother after a court session in January when he heard them talking about Wright, according to the affidavit.

Jernigan reportedly told police that Drummond said Wright had taken Drummond's "first child" and that "she won't do that to anyone else, I'm going to take her down."

During a Feb. 18 phone conversation with Drummond, Jernigan reportedly added that "Drummond talked about losing her first child and [said] that Mrs. Wright was her caseworker that removed the child."

"Mrs. Drummond then stated, 'I hate Tiffany's guts and she won't do that to me again, even if I have to bring someone in to take care of her,'" the affidavit added.

"At this time, knowing that one of Mrs. Drummond's children is in the custody of DHS and the other child recently deceased, Mr. Jernigan [informed] Mrs. Wright of the statements" and advised Wright "to be careful when dealing with Mrs. Drummond because he is not sure if she will act on the statements made," the affidavit said.

An online obituary for Malik gives the name of only one sibling, Aryanna.

Drummond is to appear in White County District Court on June 14 at 1:30 p.m., at which time she could enter a plea, Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Reed McCoy said Thursday.

Human Services Department spokesman Amy Webb had no immediate comment. The law strictly limits information that the agency can release about child-welfare cases.

Drummond has been in custody at the White County jail since late Monday in lieu of $630 bond, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Heather Zomant. Online court records do not indicate whether Drummond has an attorney.

State Desk on 04/29/2016

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