Woodstock man gets life for 2012 murder of girlfriend’s child
A Cherokee County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2012 murder of his girlfriend's young daughter, authorities said.
Michael Naples, 33, of Woodstock, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole plus 30 years. He was convicted in April on charges stemming from the October 2012 death of 17-month-old Kaylee Johnson.
“No punishment for this defendant will suffice to restore the family who lost Kaylee Johnson,” Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace said in an emailed statement. “Their loss is immeasurable … Because of this sentence Michael Naples will never hurt another child or wife or girlfriend.”
Naples was arrested alongside his girlfriend, Jamie Beck, in September 2013. Both were originally charged with murder, but Beck pleaded guilty to lesser charges last year and was sentenced to five years in prison in exchange, in part, for her testimony against Naples.
Authorities believe Kaylee was beaten to death by Naples and thrown or placed at the bottom of a set of stairs “to mislead her mother and first responders.” The child’s injuries included severe brain trauma and fractures to her skull, leg and ribs.
Authorities believe Kaylee died sometime between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. that day while in the custody of Naples. Beck reportedly found the girl at the bottom of the basement stairs and called 911.
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