Metro Atlanta parents charged in 5-year-old son's death

Marietta 5-year-old dies after months of torture: Police

Following months of alleged torture and systematic beatings, a 5-year-old Marietta boy died on Wednesday morning after being removed from life support. First responders discovered the child unresponsive in a home on Ramona Street on Sunday evening, noting immediate "visible signs of foul play".

MARIETTA, Ga. - A Marietta mother and father are facing several felony charges after their 5-year-old son died Wednesday morning following days of being on life support. 

What we know:

Cobb County 911 received a call on Feb. 1 just after 6 p.m. from a mother and father who had been performing CPR on their 5-year-old son for several minutes, according to Marietta police.

First responders arrived at the home in the 400 block of Ramona Street and found the parents next to the boy, who was lying on the floor unresponsive.

Michael Horn and Alexiss Eitrem (Cobb County Sheriff's Office)

Firefighters took over CPR before the boy was taken to Kennestone Hospital. He was then airlifted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital in Atlanta.
 
After being on life support for several days, the boy was pronounced deceased Feb. 4 around 11 a.m.

Through a detailed investigation, detectives charged the mother and father in connection with the boys’ death on Feb. 2.

The Division of Family and Children Services has taken custody of the parents’ other four children.

Alexiss Eitrem, 31, is charged with five counts of cruelty to a child in the second degree.

Michael Horn, 31, is charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault, cruelty to a child in the first degree and four counts of cruelty to a child in the second degree.

According to an arrest warrant for Horn, he "inflicted blunt force trauma" that led to the child having "internal bleeding to include that in the brain." 

An arrest warrant for Eitrem says she "knowingly allowed repeated beatings and torture of the five-year-old victim by his biological father over the course of approximately five months."

It goes on to say she allowed it to take place in front of the other children in the home and made no effort to stop the abuse. 

Parents charged in 5-year-old's death

A Marietta couple has been charged in connection with the death of their 5-year-old son. The couple has four other children who are now in the custody of family services. 

Both were booked into the Cobb County jail.

Investigators say that the charges are likely to be upgraded based on additional evidence. 

What they're saying:

Officer Chuck McPhilamy said police immediately spotted signs of foul play when they arrived at the home. 

"This 5-year-old who is now deceased had visible injuries that didn't seem right," McPhilamy said. 

Neighbor Shirley Jones says her daughter is friends with one of the other children who lives in the home. 

"I got chills all over my body.  She said that was her best friend. My heart goes out. I mean, it's a child. I don't know what else to say, but God be with him," said Jones. 

What we don't know:

It remains unclear the circumstances that led up to his becoming unresponsive.

Investigators did not say whether the other four children showed signs of abuse.