A 20-year-old man was arrested for a probation violation and did not tell police that he had left his baby daughter in his car. He was charged with murder after they found her hours later.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Tuesday in Snellville, Georgia, when 20-year-old Davied Japez McCorry Whatley was arrested for a minor charge.
Snellville police said that Whatley entered their police lobby at about 2:15 p.m. to have a gun in their possession returned to him.
Police arrested him after performing a standard background check and finding that he was in violation of his probation.
He was taken to the Gwinnett County Jail.
Hours later, the grandmother of Nova Grace Whatley-Trejo brought her to the Piedmont Eastside Emergency Room. The baby was pronounced dead, and the grandmother told hospital staff that the baby had been in Whatley’s car. At some time, Whatley told her that he had left the baby in the car.
Police found Whatley’s car near the dumpsters at Snellville City Hall.
“I’m absolutely astounded someone could leave an 8-month-old in the car, park away from our building and walk up here knowing that child was in the car,” said Snellville Police Department Detective Jeff Manley.
Police said Whatley was recorded the entire time he was being arrested and at no time did he mention his baby abandoned in his car.
They believe the baby was left in the car for up to 8 hours in temperatures of up to 86 degrees outside.
Whatley was charged with second degree murder, but the investigation is ongoing.
“She was taken away too soon from me,” said the mother of the baby to WAGA-TV. “She was my joy and was the happiest baby ever who loved eating and playing. She had the loudest squeals and laughs.”
Here’s a local news report about the incident:
Man charged with murder of daughter left in car during arrest for probation violation
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