Atlanta boy, 4, beaten to death in closet — two women charged with murder
A 4-year-old boy was found beaten to death in an Atlanta home. Two women face murder charges after the child's body was discovered hidden in a closet.
Boy's body found hidden in Atlanta closet, two women arrested on murder charges
A 4-year-old boy was found beaten to death inside a home in Atlanta, kbtx.com reports, with two women now facing murder charges in connection with the child's death.
Police discovered the body of Colby Cooks concealed beneath a pile of clothes in a master bedroom closet at around 7:20 p.m. Monday, following a welfare check at the property. Investigators determined the boy had been dead for between 12 and 24 hours before he was found.
The death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Authorities recorded severe injuries including a lacerated liver and spleen, burns, bruises, possible broken limbs and older healed scars.
Jasmaine Smoak, 32, and Jasmine Tyree Jenkins, 30, were arrested hours away in Wilkes County and face charges of murder and first-degree cruelty to children. According to arrest warrants, Smoak had been acting as the primary caretaker for Cooks and four other children living in the townhome, none of whom were related to her. Jenkins, a friend of Smoak, also resided at the address.
The two women left the children unattended on Sunday evening. The following day, Smoak contacted her father claiming an unresponsive child in the home "had gotten into some medication." Her father called 911 and reported that his daughter had already left. Smoak departed in a Mercedes-Benz with the four surviving children before authorities tracked her down.
One of the surviving children, a 5-year-old, was hospitalised in Augusta for malnourishment and facial injuries doctors attributed to abuse.
Smoak is being held at the Fulton County Jail. Jenkins remains in Wilkes County awaiting extradition.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)