Crime & Public Safety
Crime & Public Safety

UPDATE: Son of local police chief charged in child’s beating death

Joshua David Richards

Credit: Carroll County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Carroll County Sheriff's Office

Joshua David Richards
By Ellen Eldridge
Jan 29, 2018

A west Georgia man has been charged in connection with the beating death of his 3-year-old stepson, according to Carroll County jail records.

Joshua David Richards, the 21-year-old son of Carrollton police Chief Joel Richards, was jailed Tuesday after police responded to a report of an injured child at the Hickory Falls Apartments, Villa Rica Capt. Keith Shaddix previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

MORE: Police chief's son charged with child cruelty; 3-year-old had head injury

The boy’s mother had called 911. Police believe she was sleeping in a nearby room during the attack in which the boy sustained a “severe trauma” to the head.

Richards was previously charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first-degree cruelty to children and possession of marijuana, police said.

A murder charge was added after the child died over the weekend.

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