Amberly Barnett Update: Alabama Man Christopher Madison Strangled 11-Year-Old To Death

A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged in the death of an Alabama girl whose body was found Saturday after she disappeared from her aunt's home. Local media reports said late Monday, Christopher Madison was held on a capital murder charge after initial tests indicate he strangled 11-year-old Amberly Barnett to death.

Police said Madison was initially arrested for alleged drug possession, but was charged with capital murder later. He remained behind bars without bond, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Amberly's body was found dumped 200 yards into the woods behind her aunt’s house in Collinsville, Alabama — near Mount Vernon, where she lived. Her mother, Jonie Barnett, said there was a dark-colored SUV spotted in the driveway the night the young girl went missing.

“Her phone was left behind and my baby takes it everywhere. Nothing in her phone indicated she was planning to leave!” Jonie wrote in a social media post, AL.com reported. “Amberly is the type to not do anything that she will get in trouble for. She is so scared of anyone being mad at her or getting in trouble. She would not have ran away or make plans to go off somewhere.”

Jonie said her daughter was wearing a blue hoodie with yellow stripes, blue jeans, and white Converse when she disappeared.

On Monday, DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Walden did not reveal if Madison had entered a plea to the murder charge filed against him, or if he has a lawyer who could comment on his behalf. If convicted, Madison faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

“The road to justice for this sweet, innocent little girl is too important to release anything to jeopardize this investigation,” Walden said. At the press conference, Welden said the previous days had been “extremely tiresome and emotional” for himself and his entire staff and those who assisted. “It is a very tragic event,” he said.

“I would like to thank our staff and all other departments that assisted on this case. This was a true joint effort, a team effort between multiple agencies who all worked tirelessly to help us get to this point,” he added.

According to Heavy.com, Madison was arrested on a harassment charge in Cherokee County in May 2018. Oline records showed that in October 2018, a restraining order was issued against Madison, but it was dismissed a month later.

A GoFundMe page was created in Amberly’s memory. “CHS Class of 2009 is raising money in memory of our classmate’s daughter. All donations will go directly to the family of this sweet girl. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated,” it read.