Kemra Nesta Matthew, 29, of a Jonesboro address, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first degree child cruelty and aggravated assault, Officer Eddie Soto with Clayton County police said.
Matthew had a court appearance Friday morning before returning to jail, where he was being held without bond, according to booking records. But Matthew's girlfriend denied he harmed her children, Channel 2 Action News reported.
"He's a hardworking, good man, so I'm not about to sit here and let nobody, I don't care who they are, do this to him. Period," Ashley Harvey said. In an interview with investigators, Matthew denied any knowledge of how the child was injured, Soto said. Officers said Harvey's 4-year-old son, Ashton, told them Matthew punched him in the stomach, causing him to vomit, and punched his 2-year-old brother, Jayden.
Matthew was caring for his live-in girlfriend's four children on July 11 at the time the alleged abuse occurred, Soto said. All four siblings were transported to the hospital for treatment, but a 2-year-old did not survive, police previously said.
The cause of the child's death remains under investigation by the GBI, Soto said.
Police and firefighters were called to the Marquis Grande Apartments near Jonesboro on July 11 to investigate a report of four sick children, ranging in age from 8 months to 5 years, police previously said.
Matthew's criminal history includes spending nearly three years at Calhoun State Prison following a conviction on various drug charges, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He was incarcerated in June 2006 and released from prison in March 2009, records show.
When are mothers going to realize that you just cannot leave your child with anyone? I don't care how well you think you know him, or how nice he seems, you just don't do it. I know how it is being a single parent, scraping to find child care from family members. I only have 2 options and my daughter is autistic, so reluctance is a factor. If they say no, I either take her with me or I don't go. Put your child/ren first. Stop getting a man one week, and making him babysit the next.
ReplyDeleteThese mama's are so trifling
ReplyDeleteMeet a man one day and the next he is living with her
My bro law's new gf of 3mos. called my hubby talking about she pawned her flat screens to help him pay his truck note and now he won't answer her calls crying to my hubby about how her kids can't watch tv.
Had to call her back and straighten her azz out you didn't call before you pawned your things
so don't call now
How you know a man only three months and pawn your kids tv's for him
What a dumb bitch!
ReplyDeleteThat dumb b^tch need to be in jail as well.
ReplyDeletebimbo pookies always love thugs more than their own kids/themselves....
ReplyDeleteshame!!!!!!!
http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732481441/the-impending-doom-of-the-nation---the-deliberate-death-of-public-education/