A Fayette County father is facing felony murder and child cruelty charges after the death of his 10-week-old boy. The child’s mother is also facing charges following an investigation.
According to Fayette County Sheriff Barry H. Babb, deputies responded to a Woodstream Point address Wednesday afternoon on a report of a baby not breathing. When they arrived, paramedics were already there treating Justin C. Marshall II. The infant was taken by ambulance to Piedmont Fayette Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities later determined that the 10-week-old’s cause of death was non-accidental trauma that occurred when the child was alone in his father’s care, Babb said. That led officials on Thursday to charge 27-year-old Justin Carl Marshall with felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree.
Marshall was arrested Wednesday after deputies learned he was wanted for misdemeanor probation violation out of Fayette County. He was also charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Also charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana was Marshall’s wife Tabitha Marshall, the mother of the child. the mother of the child,. She was arrested while deputies were on scene Wednesday.
Justin Carl Marshall is being held in the Fayette County Jail. A first-appearance hearing in magistrate court has been scheduled for Friday morning.
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