Durant woman arrested, accused of second-degree murder in death of 4-month-old son

DURANT, Okla. (KXII) - A Durant woman was arrested and booked into the Bryan County Jail, accused of second-degree murder in the death of her 4-month-old son.

According to court documents, Kailey Crane, 23, allegedly abused her son, causing two skull fractures that led to his death in 2024.

A police affidavit provided to KXII 12 states Durant police were called to a home just after 6:30 a.m. on November 18, 2024, after 4-month-old Noah Crane was found not breathing.

He was pronounced dead by emergency room staff at 7:09 a.m. inside Alliance Hospital that morning.

Crane told police Noah hit his head on a dresser as she placed him on a changing pad before bedtime-- and that she may have put him down harder than she intended.

Noah’s grandmother told investigators she heard him screaming during the night and texted Kailey Crane to stay calm while trying to soothe him.

Investigators received statements from Crane that they said were inconsistent with the injuries described by the medical examiner.

Crane described Noah as irritable, vomiting, and showing seizure-like symptoms.

Police said during their interview with Crane, she provided information that singled herself out as the only person who could have potentially harmed her child.

The medical examiner ruled Noah’s death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

The affidavit said his two skull fractures were consistent with separate impacts from deliberate force that could not have been carried out in a single blow.

A child protection expert who reviewed the case agreed the death was related to abusive head trauma and said Noah would have shown symptoms at the time of the injuries.

The affidavit references first-degree murder, but the filed charge is second-degree murder.

Crane’s bond is set at $1 million, and she faces up to life in prison if convicted.