JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) — In a distressing turn of events in suburban Atlanta, authorities have uncovered the tragic fate of a six-month-old boy, whose lifeless body was discovered wrapped in a trash bag. The child, identified as Nnakai Pratt, succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head. This revelation comes after the child’s father initially reported a fabricated story of kidnapping during an alleged armed robbery.
Both parents, now charged in connection with the infant’s death, were denied bail on Friday and remain in custody. The charges against them underscore the gravity of the situation and the loss of young Nnakai.
Antonio Pearce, the boy’s father, initially told Clayton County police on Sunday that his son had been abducted by two armed individuals. According to Pearce, these men also made off with $6,500 in cash and 3 pounds (approximately 1.36 kilograms) of marijuana. The alleged incident took place in an apartment Pearce described as a stash house in Riverdale, located roughly 11 miles (18 kilometers) south of Atlanta.
However, the narrative took a grim turn late Tuesday when police discovered Nnakai’s body in the backyard of a residence, separated from the apartment complex by a mere fence. This discovery cast doubt on Pearce’s initial claims and shifted the investigation to focus on the parents.
During a press briefing on Friday, Clayton County Detective Chieyenne Reynolds expressed skepticism regarding Pearce’s account, noting inconsistencies in his statements. “He was caught in a lot of lies throughout his interview process,” Reynolds stated. Key evidence, including witness testimonies and data from Pearce’s phone, directed law enforcement to the tragic site where the child was found. Additionally, police allege that Pearce attempted to involve another individual in concealing a backpack containing guns and drugs.
“He was caught in a lot of lies throughout his interview process,” Reynolds said, saying witness statements and evidence from Pearce’s phone led police to the child’s body. Police also say Pearce asked another man to hide a backpack with guns and drugs.
Police haven’t said when or where Nnakai died or why Pearce might have killed him.
Police arrested Pearce on Sunday, charging him with marijuana possession and traffic offenses. They later added a false statements charge. Wednesday, they charged Pearce with Nnakai’s murder, concealing a death, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruelty to a child and falsely reporting a crime. They added a family violence charge on Thursday.
Police have also arrested Nnakai’s mother, Necolette Pratt, charging her 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 that Pearce had previously shaken the baby, local news outlets report. The warrant states investigators also found Pratt’s story inconsistent.
No lawyers are listed for Pearce or Pratt in court records.
The infant was a twin, and his surviving sister has been placed in the custody of child welfare authorities.
More details could come out next month during preliminary hearings for the parents.
