02/02/2026
Red Level Woman Pleads to Aggravated Child Abuse
Melinda Chance Lee, 60, formerly of Red Level, has pled guilty to Aggravated Child Abuse stemming from a 2022 investigation and arrest for the same. Lee’s plea came just as the child victims were set to testify about the abuse inflicted upon them. Lee was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 20 years and is incarcerated at Tutwiler Women’s Prison within the Alabama Department of Corrections.
The initial investigation began after the Covington County Sheriff’s Office responded to Andalusia Health regarding the abuse and torture of a six-year-old child. The child was obviously malnourished, badly bruised, and had significant burns about her body. She was immediately transferred to USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile where she underwent multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and extensive hospitalization. A second nine-year-old child, a sibling, also lived in Lee’s home, and suffered significant mental and emotional abuse, though physically unharmed.
Both children were forensically interviewed. The oldest child was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center and was able to detail numerous events of abuse that her sister experienced at Lee’s hand, many of which she was forced to watch or participate in at Lee’s direction. Due to her hospitalization, the younger sister could not appear for an interview and, therefore, the Covington County multi-disciplinary team traveled to her in Mobile. “We had representatives from the CAC, DHR, the Sheriff’s Office, and the DA’s Office all in Mobile together working this case. They set up recording equipment in the hospital room and were able to get the information needed to continue the investigation, make an arrest, and allow us to successfully prosecute,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell. He added, “It is, perhaps, one of the greatest examples of teamwork and the dedication this team has to protecting children in this county.”
The girls recounted abuse by Lee to the younger sibling, to include locking the child in a dog cage or Lee’s closet for periods of time and forcing the child to sleep naked on the laundry room floor; beatings with a belt, which led to prolonged ice baths in an attempt to cover bruising; eye injuries resulting from having hot sauce or alcohol poured into her eyes, before then being covered with salted potato slices; and an overheated rice sock which was duct taped to the child’s body causing severe deep-tissue burns. The child was malnourished to such a degree that medical staff believed her death would have been imminent without medical intervention.
Law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at Lee’s residence. As a result of the detailed accounts given by the children, officers recovered numerous items of evidence against Lee, to include the rice sock, belt, empty ice bags, hot sauce, and a partial dog crate, among other things.
Lieutenant Investigator Joey Cato worked the case for the Sheriff’s Office. Cato interviewed Lee as part of the investigation and Lee confessed that she had done some of the things the girls accused her of, but largely blamed the abuse on the older sister or the behavior of the younger sister. When Cato questioned Lee about the abuse, Lee often told her version of the story with a smile and through laughter. Cato commented, “In both interviews, Melinda Lee embodied pure evil. She showed no remorse for her actions, no concern for the children, and was only emotional once she realized she was going to jail. She’s exactly where she deserves to be – in a cage, similar to the one she created for these victims. I imagine it isn’t as funny today.”
The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Nikki Stephens. “The girls were set to be deposed and, on the day of the deposition, Lee pled guilty. There was no room for negotiating a sentence as the conduct was so egregious and our case was so strong – strong because we had two of the most courageous girls ready and willing to tell their stories. I suppose Melinda Lee could see ‘the writing on the wall’ and preferred the world not know any more than necessary about what a monster she really is. This is the worst physical abuse case I’ve seen, and twenty years isn’t enough, but it is the maximum the law allows for this crime.”
A few days after her plea, Lee filed a petition with the Court asking to withdraw her guilty plea. “The record was very clear that Lee knew what she was doing when she pled guilty, and buyer’s remorse is not a reason to set aside a plea. I filed an objection and shortly thereafter the Court denied her request to withdraw her plea. Her appeal time has now run, and the case is final,” commented Stephens.
Merrell added, “There is simply no room in civilized society for people like Lee, who prey upon children and find power in the abuse of those more vulnerable than herself. For someone to dream up the methods of abuse that she subjected these children to – both the physical, but also the psychological trauma she created between the siblings – is horrific. It is hard to fathom someone so cruel, but to do it to children is as evil as it gets. And though it is an unfortunate truth, this case highlights why the need for a Child Advocacy Center is so very important.”
Sheriff Blake Turman also commented, “We don’t see abuse cases like this, to this degree, very often, and I’m thankful we don’t. What was amazing was watching all the different agencies come together to seamlessly provide input and assistance however was needed. Covington County is blessed to have the CAC, and the multi-disciplinary team members who dedicate countless hours to serving the children that need it most. Lee has been in our jail several times – she was first arrested on this charge and made bond. She was then later arrested for DUI and her bond was revoked. She remained in our jail until we recently transferred her to DOC custody, and she’s now exactly where she needs to be.”
Stephens wished to thank Cato, CCSO Captain Mike Irwin, the DHR staff, and the CAC staff that all worked this case, along with Chief Investigator Nickey Carnley in the DA’s Office. “Everyone had a part, and I’m thankful for each person that worked on it. Not all cases have happy endings, but this one does. While Melinda Lee will likely die in prison, these girls have since been adopted and are thriving. They’ve accomplished far more in their young lives than Lee ever will, and I could not be more proud of each of them.”
