Mother, boyfriend found guilty in murder of 1-year-old girl

A Bartow County jury found a mother and her boyfriend guilty Wednesday afteoon in the death of her 1-year-old daughter that sparked a social media storm to remember the child.

The jury resumed its deliberations Wednesday moing and continued after lunch before convicting Brandy Ann Boyd, and her boyfriend, Austin Levi Payne in connection to the death of Jouey Ann Cowart.

The Bartow County Medical Examiner at the time of the death called the case the "worst cases of child abuse" seen in the county and told FOX 5 News that about started about 8 months before the child died.

Members of the community were out in force on Wednesday in front of the courthouse in Bartow County, holding signs that read "Justice for Jouey" and "Honk for Jouey". Supporters wore purple to fight child abuse.

The community has been strongly behind seeking justice for Jouey. They set up the Jouey Ann Cowart Foundation to help raise awareness to child abuse and keep the memory of Jouey alive.

Justice for Jouey

The "Justice for Jouey" movement came one step closer to an end May 13 after a Bartow County jury found Brandy Boyd and her boyfriend Austin Levi Payn guilty of murder, child cruelty and a host of other charges. Prosecutors convinced the jury the two brutally beat and assaulted Boyd's one year old daughter Jouey Ann Cowart for an extended period of time leading up to the girl's death.

The Sheriff's Office says Jouey Ann Cowart was beaten to death by her mother and boyfriend and that the beating that killed her two weeks ago was not the first.
 
A small, but vocal group of mothers and other conceed women from Cartersville rallied in front of the Bartow County Courthouse. They urged people driving by to honk in support of the "Justice for Jouey" movement so that jurors and others inside the courthouse would hear the public still cares about the little girl who was murdered in January 2014.
 
The women, many of whom brought their young children to help hold signs, had planned to stay during the length of jury deliberations. They say were pleasantly surprised the jury reached a verdict after just a day of deliberations following the four day murder trial. A gravesite vigil for Jouey is planned for May 13 at sunset at Oakhill Cemetery.