Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Man charged with murder after woman, 4-year-old girl found dead in burning car

The bodies were discovered inside a burning car.
The bodies were discovered inside a burning car.
By
June 16, 2020

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

Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.

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