Police in suburban Atlanta say they discovered the body of a six-month-old boy wrapped in a trash bag -- his skull fractured from blunt force trauma -- days after his father falsely claimed the child had been kidnapped during an armed robbery.
According to The Associated Press, both parents of the infant, identified as Nnakai Pratt, were denied bail Friday and remain in jail on multiple charges related to his death.
Authorities say Antonio Pearce, the boy's father, told Clayton County police on Sunday that two armed men had stolen $6,500 in cash, three pounds of marijuana, and abducted Nnakai while he sat strapped in his car seat. The alleged kidnapping, Pearce claimed, happened inside an apartment he described as a stash house in Riverdale, about 11 miles south of Atlanta.
But by Tuesday night, officers discovered Nnakai's body in a trash bag behind a nearby home -- just beyond the fence line of the same apartment complex.
Clayton County Detective Chieyenne Reynolds said investigators immediately doubted Pearce's story.
"He was caught in a lot of lies throughout his interview process," Reynolds said, noting that witness statements and data pulled from Pearce's phone helped lead police to the child's body.
Investigators also allege Pearce asked another man to hide a backpack containing guns and drugs.
Police have not said when or where the child was killed or provided a motive.
Pearce was initially arrested Sunday on charges of marijuana possession and traffic violations, then later charged with making false statements. By Wednesday, his charges expanded to include murder, concealing a death, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruelty to a child, and falsely reporting a crime. A family violence charge was added Thursday.
Nnakai's mother, Necolette Pratt, was also arrested and charged with child cruelty, concealing a death, obstruction of an officer, false statements, and being a party to a crime.
A warrant for her arrest says she told investigators Pearce had previously shaken the baby. Detectives said her account also contained inconsistencies.
No attorneys are listed for either parent in court records.
The infant was one of twins; his surviving sister has been placed in state custody. Preliminary hearings for Pearce and Pratt are scheduled for next month.