Toddler who was beaten dies; father charged with murder
A 21-month-old who had been on life support since the weekend has died, Marietta police confirmed. The child died just before 4 p.m. Thursday at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
The boy’s father Shomari Holmes, 21, of Marietta faces felony murder charges in the toddler’s beating death.
According to warrants, Holmes is accused of hitting the toddler in the head and ribs repeatedly, causing internal bleeding. Police say Holmes admitted to the alleged crimes in a video confession.
The alleged beating occurred between Feb. 4 and Saturday at a home in Marietta, the warrants say. But police think the beatings have been going on a while, Channel 2 Action News reported.
The child had been on life support at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta since Saturday.
Chantelle Driver, the mother, faces child cruelty and deprivation charges. Police say the mother knew about the alleged beatings but didn’t call 911.
Holmes, who remained in the Cobb County Detention Center, also faces aggravated battery, simple battery and second-degree cruelty to children charges.
Holmes also allegedly hit a 3-year-old girl on her back and legs with a belt and bit her right forearm.
