Douglas County Man Convicted For Brutally Beating His Ex-Wife, Child: Prosecutor

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — A Douglas County man was convicted for beating a child and brutally assaulting his ex-wife, nearly killing her in 2020, according to the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.

Michael Diaz, 37, was convicted March 14 on aggravated assault, battery and aggravated battery charges stemming from three separate incidents with his ex-wife and her children, the DA's office said.

On April 14, 2020, her three kids were visiting their grandmother when she noticed deep bruising on one of the children. The child told their grandmother that Diaz had beaten him with a belt, according to prosecutors.

The grandmother saw a marking in the shape of a belt buckle and numerous other injuries on the child. Authorities were called and the Department of Family and Children Services took custody of the kids.

During forensic interviews, investigators learned Diaz beat the child with visible injuries and had been violent with the mother in the home, prosecutors said. For the safety of the children, they were placed in the temporary custody of a relative.

Then on June 8, 2020, Diaz and his ex-wife were arguing when he pulled out a knife and started walking toward her. She ran to her car to get away from him, but as she tried to escape, Diaz stabbed her tires and fled, according to the DA's office.

Then in the last fight on Sept. 12, 2020, Douglasville police got a call reporting a stabbing — and prosecutors say Diaz stabbed his ex-wife, punched her, pulled her hair out, gouged her eye and tried to suffocate her multiple times. Officers found her bleeding, hair pulled out, and one eye gouged and swollen shut.

She told police Diaz punched her in the face and tried to kill her by attempting to suffocate her multiple times. She said she stabbed him with a knife in an attempt to get away.

Diaz's ex-wife underwent multiple surgeries and still suffers from permanent eye damage, according to prosecutors, and both she and her child provided testimony during the trial.

A jury convicted Diaz on four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of battery.

“The victim in this case had to endure multiple egregious incidents of abuse from this defendant. Her courage to stand up to her abuser, not only during these incidents but in court, is a true testament to her resilience and survivorship” District Attorney Dalia Racine said. “We can only hope that her strength serves as a beacon to others suffering from domestic violence to seek help and resources to get out of those terrible scenarios.”

Diaz's sentencing hearing is set for March 29.

For anyone in a domestic abuse relationship that needs help, there are several resources in Douglas County, including the Domestic Violence Task Force (can be reached at 678-715-1196) and Share House (can be reached at 770-949-0626).