Clerical Error Leads To Accidental Release Of Suspect In Killing Of 2-Year-Old Girl

A man suspected of murdering a 2-year-old child was accidentally released from jail on Tuesday, Aug. 17, after a clerical error gave him a bail amount different from what the court had mandated.

Tylan McCray was in a bond hearing with a judge on Tuesday, who set his bail to $15 million. However, a person at the clerical office accidentally set the amount to $15,000. McCray was able to post that amount and leave jail, according to CBS affiliate WREG.

“Apparently, someone in the clerk’s office mistakenly entered the bond into the system as $15,000,” District Attorney Amy Weirich said.

McCray is in prison for allegedly murdering 2-year-old Laylah Washington, who was in a sedan with her mom Leslie Washington when he got into an argument with the occupants of the car. It is not known what the argument was about, nor why they were all in the black sedan together.

Police say McCray admitted to opening fire and hitting Laylah with his bullets, NBC Action News reported.

It is not clear why McCray would open fire in front of the vehicle. It is also not known whether Laylah was targeted in the attack or not.

Leslie Washington was indignant about this error and is said to have worried for her life after the suspect's early release because of what happened.

“They told me they had TBI out looking for him,” she said to reporters. “I really was heartbroken because I felt like the justice system had failed us again.”

Authorities found and rebooked McCray by Wednesday afternoon, though Washington is still angry that a dangerous slip-up like this could happen, saying that her life was put at risk because of this situation.

“They need to take their jobs a little more serious, especially when you’re dealing with criminals, murderers, and rapists,” she said. “I think the person needs to be reprimanded for their actions.”

A spokesperson for the clerk’s office has been clear that the matter has been settled, though it is not known what kind of disciplinary actions were done to the employee who caused the slip-up to happen.