Man Faces Murder Charge In Infant's Death In Bibb

BIBB COUNTY, GA — A man is facing murder charges in connection with the death of his girlfriend's 6-month-old son in Macon, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Authorities say they responded around 8:30 p.m. Sunday to a Fairmont Avenue home regarding a call about an infant not breathing.

Paramedics took the infant to Atrium Health Navicent Children's Hospital, where the child was treated before being airlifted to Children's Hospital of Atlanta.

Investigators at Atrium Health determined the boy had suffered from severe unknown injuries, authorities said. He died around 11 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

When deputies contacted Willie George Northern Jr., a 24-year-old Kathleen resident, on Sunday, authorities said he told them he was babysitting his girlfriend's son and that he laid the child down to rest after feeding and swaddling him.

Northern later found the boy unresponsive and called 911, authorities said. They took Northern to police headquarters for questioning and later identified him as a suspect in connection with the infant's condition, authorities said.

He was taken to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center around 2 a.m. Monday and now faces a murder charge, authorities said. He was initially arrested on charges of tampering with evidence and first-degree cruelty to children, authorities said.

Northern remained in custody Wednesday. An official cause and manner of death were not released.