In the left inset is Nnakai Pratt (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) and in the right inset is Antonio Pearce (Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office). The background image shows a wooded area near the 100 block of Valley Hill Road in Clayton County, Georgia, where Antonio Pearce’s son, Nnakai Pratt, was tragically found deceased after Pearce reportedly claimed his son had been kidnapped (WAGA).
In Georgia, a baby just six months old was reported missing this week when his father alleged he was abducted during an armed robbery. However, the child was discovered dead on Tuesday night close to his father’s apartment complex. Authorities found the kidnapping claim to be “highly questionable,” according to local statements.
Clayton County Medical Examiner Brian Byars informed Law&Crime on Wednesday morning, “The child was located very near the initial search area. We plan to perform an autopsy, hopefully this week, to ascertain the cause of death.”
The father, Antonio Pearce of Riverdale, allegedly contacted authorities on Sunday at approximately 8:18 a.m., claiming that his son Nnakai Pratt had been abducted during an armed robbery. He described that his son was in a car seat carrier taken by several individuals, who then left “in an unknown direction,” as per a Clayton County Police Department press release.
On Monday, CCPD officials claimed that during the investigation, detectives began to harbor doubts due to conflicting statements and physical evidence suggesting foul play.
While Pearce was interrogated by investigators, his account reportedly began to fall apart. He was subsequently arrested on charges unrelated to the case, including the distribution of marijuana and a violation of child restraint laws, and remained in detention on Wednesday without bail.
“At this moment, the facts surrounding the disappearance of baby Nnakai Pratt are highly questionable, and CCPD Detectives have deemed Nnakai Pratt’s father to be a suspect in his sudden disappearance,” the CCPD release says.
Searches were conducted at Pearce’s apartment complex and in nearby wooded areas, with Byars telling Law&Crime that a cop found Nnakai.
“One of the county police officers was canvassing the area with other investigators and they discovered the baby,” Byars said.
Multiple search warrants were served at locations that CCPD detectives believed were “relevant to this case,” including Pearce’s apartment and areas nearby. Media reports came out after Nnakai was found claiming his body was located in a dumpster, but Byars told Law&Crime that was untrue.
“He was in the vicinity of where they were searching but not in a dumpster,” Byars said.
Nnakai reportedly has a twin sibling who is safe and with their mother. A car near Pearce’s home was taken away by police and being probed by investigators.
“This is a nightmare,” neighbor Meshia Sikes told local CW affiliate WANF. “Makes you want to hold your kids tighter at night.”
