Friday 4 February 2011

SBS: Georgia: Johnny Lee Edwards charged with murder

February 02, 2011

By Elizabeth Melville The Times-Herald

Johnny Lee Edwards, 21, was taken into custody Monday evening, charged with murder in the death of his 5-week-old son, Austin Edwards.
He remained at the Coweta County Jail Tuesday without bond.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Atlanta crime lab ruled the victim's death a homicide on Monday following an autopsy. The infant suffered broken bones and internal bleeding -- injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome and other possible forms of physical abuse -- while in the care of his father on Friday, according to Major James Yarbrough of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office.
"[Edwards] turned himself in shortly after 6 p.m. Monday evening," said Yarbrough. Investigators with the sheriff's office called a family member Monday and had Edwards brought to the Coweta County Jail. There, Edwards was interviewed again. Following the interview, the suspect was informed that he was being placed under arrest for murder, according to Yarbrough. The suspect had a first appearance hearing Tuesday afternoon before Coweta Magistrate Court Judge Joseph A. Wyant Jr. at the jail.
Edwards had been residing with his girlfriend, Jessica Barrera, at 124 West Wedgewood Circle off Franklin Highway, just west of the Newnan city limits. The two were living with their children in a home behind Barrera's parents' residence, according to Yarbrough.
Edwards was reportedly home alone Friday with his twin infants.
"That's when the injuries occurred to the child," said Yarbrough.
Edwards reportedly took his infant son to his girlfriend's parents' house and they drove Austin, who was exhibiting signs of medical distress, to Piedmont Newnan Hospital around 7 p.m. The baby was later transported by helicopter ambulance to Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Egleston. Officials at the hospital notified the sheriff's office of the suspicious incident on Friday, according to Yarbrough.
Austin remained on life support until it was shut off Sunday evening. The infant was pronounced dead shortly after midnight, according to Yarbrough.
The victim's twin sister, Abigail, also remains at Egleston for an unrelated respiratory infection, according to Yarbrough. Police do not believe at this time that she was injured Friday.
Yarbrough confirmed Tuesday they are still looking into whether the infant girl was abused.
http://www.times-herald.com/local/Father-surrenders-in-slaying-of-baby-1521429

5 comments:

  1. This is so terrible. He should be done the same way. An innocent baby just starting life. How in the world could anyone do this.

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  2. my son was done the same way on feb 21 and passed away feb 25 and the person who done it should be done the same way

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  3. Unless you were there, you have no reason to comment about should be done to the father. You really should know the whole story before you pass judgement. Remember that Johnny is someones child as well.

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  4. I was there and saw the entire thing, these babies did not deserver what happened to them. They should have never been left alone with him. The man is uncontrolable and has a short temper. He deserves more then what he got.

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