Man, 18, accused in death of child
By Bobby Moore
Staff Writer
Alonzo Toler, 18, of Douglasville has been arrested by the Douglasville Police Department and accused in the death of his 2-month-old son, which medical officials said was caused by head trauma.
Police were notified around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday by WellStar Douglas hospital employees that a child brought in by an ambulance was suffering from a fractured skull and had to be put on a ventilator, officials said.
The child was life-flighted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he passed away later that night.
Chief Joe Whisenant said Toler eventually admitted to investigators from the Major Case Unit that he had punched the child and threw him to the floor. Motives for the alleged abuse are still under investigation, Whisenant added.
The Major Case Unit is a cooperative effort between four investigators from the police department and four investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office who combine their efforts and resources to solve major crimes.
According to Whisenant, Toler had picked up the child late Tuesday night from the mother’s home in Riverdale.
Whisenant added there is a 17-hour window between the time Toler picked up the child and when the child arrived at WellStar in which the suspected abuse likely occurred.
Toler also admitted he became concerned Wednesday afternoon when the child was not eating or showing any signs of response, Whisenant said.
When Toler visited a female neighbor at Twin Creeks apartments to ask her if the baby was sick, she immediately insisted he call 911, Whisenant said.
Whisenant added that Toler has been cooperating with investigators and has shown them the scene of the alleged crime.
12pm follow-up–WXIA says Toler appeared in Douglas County Court this morning where the judge denied bond. McDade says they are still unsure as to his age–he might be 17, he might be 18–so he might or might not be charged as an adult.
