A Kathleen man has been charged in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 6-month-old baby in Macon, according to a statement from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Willie George Northern Jr., 24, was reportedly caring for the infant when he called 911 before 8:30 p.m. Sunday to report that the child was “unresponsive” and “not breathing,” deputies said. Northern told investigators that he “fed, swaddled, then laid the infant to rest.” He later found the child unresponsive and called emergency services.
Deputies and paramedics responded to a home on Fairmont Avenue. The infant was taken to a children’s hospital where he was found to have severe injuries and was listed in critical condition. The child was later flown to an Atlanta children’s hospital for further treatment, but medical staff reported that he died around 11 p.m. Tuesday.
While the infant received medical care, deputies brought Northern in for questioning at the BCSO Investigations Headquarters after identifying him as a suspect related to the child’s condition. Northern was arrested and booked into Bibb County Jail before 2 a.m. Monday. Sgt. Christopher Williams told The Telegraph that bond was denied.
Initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and tampering with evidence, Northern also faces a murder charge following the child’s death, according to officials.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones stated that an autopsy will be performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Friday morning.
The sheriff’s office declined The Telegraph’s request for more information about the incident, and no detailed incident report is available at this time.
“This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 9:28 AM.”
