Rodney McWeay trial: Jury begins deliberations in murder trial
Closing arguments in Rodney McWeay murder trial
The trial of an Atlanta father accused of starving his four-year-old daughter to death is nearing its end. Closing arguments took place on Tuesday afternoon and the jury has started its deliberations.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The fate of the Atlanta father accused of starving his four-year-old daughter to death is now in the hands of the jury after closing arguments on Tuesday.
What we know:
Rodney McWeay is facing multiple charges, including murder and first-degree cruelty to children, in connection with the December 2023 death of his daughter, Treasure McWeay. Prosecutors allege the child died as a result of prolonged starvation and abuse.
Testimony earlier in the trial painted a grim picture of life inside McWeay’s home. Witnesses described Treasure and her two brothers as being disheveled, locked in rooms, and physically abused. The prosecution rested its case Monday morning shortly before 10:30 a.m.
Following that, McWeay’s defense team requested a directed verdict of acquittal, which the judge denied. The defense chose not to call any witnesses or present additional evidence.
McWeay had previously rejected a plea deal before the start of the trial. The case is now in the hands of the jury, which is expected to begin deliberations later this week.
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Rodney McWeay trial nearing conclusion
The trial for the man accused of killing his daughter and mistreating his two young sons, Rodney McWeay, is nearing its conclusion in Gwinnett County. Closing arguments are expected Tuesday afternoon.
The backstory:
Rodney McWeay, 32, is accused of starving his 4-year-old daughter, Treasure McWeay, to death and abusing his two young sons.
McWeay faces multiple charges, including murder, child cruelty and kidnapping, tied to a pattern of severe neglect and abuse inside a mold-infested Atlanta duplex. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jurors heard emotional testimony during his trial over the last two weeks from a pediatrician who detailed troubling declines in growth and development in one of McWeay’s sons, including bruises consistent with being struck. "Any drop on the growth curve for a child is abnormal," the doctor testified.
Dr. Keely Iannelli, who examined Treasure, told jurors the girl died of cardiac arrest caused by prolonged malnutrition. "The heart is the last to go," she said.
A nurse described how one of the boys devoured food so quickly at the hospital he had to be stopped to prevent vomiting. "He didn’t know when to stop," she said.
Last week, a state child protection investigator testified she found the children locked in a room during a welfare check months before Treasure’s death. "This is how I have my kids trained," she recalled McWeay saying as he snapped his fingers and directed his daughter to sit silently.
Despite reports to police and child welfare authorities, no decisive intervention occurred. Treasure weighed just 24 pounds at the time of her death.
McWeay rejected a 75-year plea deal and now faces life in prison if convicted.
What's next:
FOX 5 will continue to monitor developments in this case from the Fulton County Courthouse.