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Mom accused of killing child ordered eerie 'afterlife' photos

A North Carolina woman, charged in the death of her daughter, ordered commemorative photos of her daughter to be made months before she was arrested. 

A North Carolina woman, charged in the death of her daughter, ordered commemorative photos of her daughter to be made months before she was arrested.

Jeanie Ditty, a soldier stationed at Fort-Bragg, and her boyfriend, Zachary Keefer, were arrested last Thursday and charged with murdering 2-year-old Macy Grace, WCNC-TV reported.

Weeks before the arrest, Ditty hired Pennsylvania-based photographer, Sunny Jo, to create “afterlife” photos featuring Macy.

Jo said Ditty sent him photos that Keefer took of her posing at Macy's gravesite and Jo used Photoshop to superimposeMacy’s image into the photos.

"She found me on Facebook and asked me if I would do it and I said absolutely,” he said.

Jo said he had no idea that Ditty was involved in her daughter’s murder at the time, and even refused to take payment for the photos.

"She seemed like a grieving mother so I didn’t charge her,” he said in a phone interview.

One of the images shows Ditty reading to her daughter at the gravesite. Another photo depicts Macy walking hand-in-hand with her mother.

Jo said he didn't realize that Ditty played a part in Macy's death until several days ago when he began receiving thousands of Facebook messages.

"People were threatening me, cops were calling me,” he said. “I felt terrible, honestly, thinking I was somehow involved in this woman portraying herself as an innocent woman."

Jo said he hasn't been able to sleep and just hopes that at least the little girl finally has been given a voice.

Macy was taken to Cape Fear Valley Hospital on Dec. 2 and died several days later at the UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, WCNC-TV reported.

The 2-year-old was covered in bruises that were consistent with child abuse and was placed on life support. Her father, Kevin Ditty, was called back from overseas to decide whether to take Macy off life support, the Fayetteville Observer reported.

Ditty and Keefer were charged with negligent child abuse and first-degree murder, according to Fayetteville Police, WCNC reported.

Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.

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