A man is charged with felony murder after authorities in Douglasville found the bodies of a woman and a 4-year-old girl in a burning car Sunday evening.

Derrick Lashun Hobbs, 37, of Douglasville, is also charged with malice murder and aggravated assault in the deaths of Lawanda Barrows, 59, and Layla Hobbs.

Officers found the vehicle “fully engulfed in flames” behind a home on Colquitt Street about 5:30 p.m., Douglasville police said in a news release. Police found Barrows and Layla Hobbs inside the car once the blaze was extinguished.

Investigators determined the deaths were related to a domestic incident and identified Derrick Hobbs as a suspect, police said. He was found about 10 p.m. and arrested, officials said. No information was provided about how he is connected to the victims.

Hobbs was booked into the Douglas County Jail, where he remains with no bond.

An investigation is ongoing.

In other news: 

The website was restored hours later

About the Author

Keep Reading

A Rockdale County inmate is accused of escaping custody while at Grady Memorial Hospital late Sunday. (AJC file)

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)