Metro Atlanta Man Convicted Of Murder In Pregnant Girlfriend, Baby's Deaths

DECATUR, GA — DeKalb County prosecutors say a man has been convicted of fatally shooting his pregnant girlfriend in the head, causing the baby's death four months later.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston's office on Monday announced the news.

Prosecutors said Diamonte Haithcoats, 24, of Stone Mountain, was convicted of murder and other charges on Friday in connection with the 2023 deaths of Shaniyah Rodriguez and her baby, Milliani.

Rodriguez was found unresponsive from a gunshot wound to the head around 5:45 a.m., Feb. 2, 2023 at an Old Singleton Lane condominium in unincorporated Clarkston, prosecutors said.

She was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where an emergency caesarian was performed to deliver her baby, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez died two days after the shooting, while Milliani later died on June 19, 2023, prosecutors said. An official cause of death for Milliani was not revealed.

Seven rifle shell casings were recovered from the scene, and witnesses identified the suspect's vehicle as a dark-colored SUV that was seen leaving the scene after the shooting, prosecutors said.

Authorities used surveillance video to identify the suspect's vehicle as a dark blue Hyundai Palisade, which was later determined to be stolen, prosecutors said.

Through the investigation, authorities determined Rodriguez's phone connected to the Palisade through Bluetooth, prosecutors said. They added her phone paired with the Palisade minutes before the 911 call about the shooting, prosecutors said.

Investigators used phone data to show Haithcoats' phone left the condominium complex immediately after the deadly shooting, prosecutors said.

During a police interview, prosecutors said Haithcoats "tried to downplay the extent of his relationship with Rodriguez and would not admit to living with her nor being the father of her child."

However, prosecutors said Rodriguez told a friend that her relationship with Haithcoat began to deteriorate and that she feared for her safety while with him.

A motive in the shooting death of Rodriguez was not released.

After the trial, a jury convicted Haithcoats of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault-family violence and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, prosecutors said.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith sentenced Haithcoats to two sentences of life without the possibility of parole plus five years, prosecutors said.