A Georgia man who allegedly left his 3-month-old son to die in a hotel room told police that he tried to help, but an autopsy report suggests that may not have been the case.
Jerry Chambers Jr., 21, was arrested in January after his three-month-old son Joshua was discovered dead in a hotel room in College Park, Georgia. According to an affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate WSB, Chambers informed police that he discovered Joshua unresponsive in the hotel room where he was staying. Chambers claimed that he discovered the infant “unresponsive and foaming at the mouth” and tried to resuscitate him, but he remained unresponsive.
The affidavit also stated that Chambers claimed he left the baby at the hotel while he went to work.
According to the affidavit, Chambers did not call 911 after noticing his infant son’s condition. Instead, Chambers allegedly left Joshua to go to another hotel with a friend.
When Chambers returned and saw that his infant son was still unresponsive, he “packed a bag” and did not render aid or call for help.
According to WSB, investigators believe Chambers failed to call 911 for two days after finding Joshua unresponsive. Chambers was arrested on Jan. 28 after police discovered the baby dead and charged him with murder and cruelty to children.
Joshua’s autopsy findings were shared with WSB on Tuesday. The Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed to the station that the baby died from “dehydration and undernourishment due to infant neglect.” The manner of death was homicide.
Chambers remains in custody at the Fulton County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
