On July 27, 2022, four-week-old Kentrell Leonard was admitted to Piedmont Columbus Regional hospital with multiple bruises, multiple fractures, difficulty breathing, and brain bleeds consistent with shaken baby syndrome. He was life-flighted to Scottish Rite Pediatric ICU, where he was pronounced dead on August 9, 2022. The official cause of death was hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy associated with subdural hemorrhage, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. His father, Delonta Williams (age 22), was initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and later charged with second-degree murder, cruelty to children second degree, and aggravated battery after the autopsy results were received over a year later.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple sources describe inflicted injuries. The WRBL article states the infant "suffered multiple fractures and bruising, as well as two head injuries." The WTVM article states "An examination showed the victim had multiple brain bleeds that were consistent with injuries sustained during 'shaken baby' incidents." These injuries are clearly inflicted.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
The WTVM article explicitly states that "An examination showed the victim had multiple brain bleeds that were consistent with injuries sustained during 'shaken baby' incidents." The WJCL article similarly states "The injuries were consistent with babies who had been shaken."
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Multiple sources identify Delonta Williams as the biological father. The WRBL article states "Williams' four-week-old son, Kentrell Leonard, was admitted to the hospital." The WTVM article states "The victim's father, Delonta Williams, was arrested and charged." The WJCL article refers to "the death of his child, Kentrell Leonard." He was charged with murder and cruelty to children in connection with the death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Delonta Williams was arrested and charged multiple times. The WRBL article states "Delonta Williams, 22, was booked into the Muscogee County Jail on July 28, 2022. He faces a charge of first-degree child cruelty." The WTVM article states "On November 16, Delonta Williams was arrested on a second degree murder charge and cruelty to children, second degree." He was also charged with aggravated battery.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
A notable detail is the significant delay between the child's death and the filing of murder charges. The child died on August 9, 2022, and Williams initially bonded out of jail after being charged only with first-degree cruelty to children. The WTVM article states "On November 14, Adult and Youth Services investigators received the official autopsy results for the victim which indicated 'homicide' as the manner of death. On November 16, Delonta Williams was arrested on a second degree murder charge and cruelty to children, second degree." This was November 2023 — over 15 months after the child's death — during which time Williams was free on bond. This prolonged delay in receiving autopsy results and escalating charges is a notable systemic detail.
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