A Georgia man who first told police his infant son had been kidnapped during an armed robbery is now under investigation for the child’s death after the baby was found dead in a dumpster.
Antonio Pearce is being investigated by the Clayton County Police Department in connection with the disappearance and death of his 6-month-old son, Nnakai Pratt.
Authorities said Pearce was arrested early Monday morning on unrelated charges and is being held without bond at the Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro, Georgia.
According to court records, Pearce faces charges including making false statements to police, illegal child restraint, marijuana possession, and two counts of driving with a suspended or revoked license. As of Wednesday, Oct. 15, he has not been charged in his son’s death.
Police said Pearce contacted investigators on Sunday, claiming he had been robbed at gunpoint and that the suspects took his baby from a car seat before fleeing. Detectives quickly found the story “highly questionable” and named Pearce a suspect in the disappearance.
Investigators also questioned Pearce’s girlfriend while continuing the search for Nnakai, according to WSB-TV and Atlanta News First.
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On Tuesday, officers discovered the baby’s body inside a dumpster near the Riverdale apartment complex where he had been reported missing, according to WRDW, WANF, and Fox 5 Atlanta.
Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief over the tragedy.
“This is sad,” neighbor Meshia Sikes told Atlanta News First, saying the story about an armed robbery didn’t add up. “The story doesn’t make sense. The math isn’t mathing. Somebody is up in these apartments 24 hours a day. We would’ve definitely known if there had been a robbery here.”
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Another resident, Tracy Karch, told WANF she was heartbroken by the news. “These little ones — the families who live here, they do love their kids,” she said. “This is a very family-oriented place. This is going to hurt the community really, really bad.”
Officials with the Clayton County Police Department have not released additional details about the ongoing investigation.
