Bibb County man faces murder charge after death of girlfriend's baby
Willie George Northern Jr. Courtesy of Bibb County Sheriff's Office
BIBB COUNTY, Ga. - A Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigator has arrested a man and filed a murder charge following the death of a six-month-old infant who was found unresponsive at a Macon home earlier this month.
What we know:
Deputies were called to a residence on Fairmont Avenue around 8:26 p.m. on Jan. 4 after a report of a newborn not breathing. Paramedics transported the infant to Atrium Health Navicent Children’s Hospital, where investigators learned the child had suffered severe injuries. The infant was later airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta in critical condition.
Authorities say 24-year-old Willie George Northern Jr. of Kathleen told deputies he had been caring for his girlfriend’s infant, feeding and swaddling the child before placing him down to rest. After further investigation, Northern was identified as a suspect and taken into custody just before 2 a.m. on Jan. 5. He was initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and tampering with evidence. After the infant died late Jan. 6, investigators obtained a warrant charging Northern with murder.