By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com
CORDELE — Two people charged with murdering a 16-day-old infant in the fall of 2007 were indicted by a Crisp County grand jury earlier this month and are scheduled to appear in Crisp Superior Court on March 13.
The baby’s uncle, Steve Lee Williams Jr., who was 19 when he was arrested in late September, and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Shameka Nicole Williams, both of 601-B E. Sixth Ave. were arrested in connection with the murder of the infant. They were charged with one count each of murder, felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree.
The charges were the result of an investigation that began on Aug. 9, 2007 by detectives with the Cordele Police Department. Det. Charlie McDowell responded to Crisp Regional Hospital in reference to a reported case of child abuse, possibly shaken baby syndrome.
Authorities with the Crisp County Department of Family and Children Services met with the detective and informed him that the baby had been beaten and was suffering from brain injuries.
The baby was on life-support and was later transferred to a hospital in Macon, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
During his investigation, McDowell learned from the child’s mother that her baby had been left in the care of her brother and his girlfriend.
Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were called in to assist with the investigation which revealed the baby died as a result of abuse.
Another case scheduled to be heard is that of the State of Georgia vs. Marque Shamar Palmer, who in June of 2007, ran from police. He was caught and found to be in possession of some 15 pounds of marijuana.
As a result of this incident, Palmer was charged with trafficking in marijuana, driving an improperly equipped vehicle, disobeying a traffic control device, reckless driving and fleeing or attempting to elude police officers.
According to District Attorney Denise Fachini, two trials were held this past week before the honorable Judge Robert W. Chasteen.
Fredrick McCloud was sentenced to 50 years in prison with 30 to serve on several cases, one of the most recent being that he and another inmate attempted to smuggle drugs into the county jail.
He was being held there on prior charges of aggravated assault in connection to a drive-by shooting and several drug charges.
Also, Rodriguez Johnson was sentenced to five years, three to serve, for a felony obstruction of an officer charge involving Crisp County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenny Purvis. Johnson also had several prior arrests on various charges.
