Atlanta police were conducting a welfare check Monday night at a gated community in the 3500 block of Cardinal Drive SW when they forced entry into a townhome and found a 4-year-old boy dead. Emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful.
By Tuesday morning, Jasmaine Smoak had been arrested in Wilkes County, more than an hour away, with Wilkes County deputies using license plate reader technology to locate her. Smoak, described by police as a friend of the child’s mother, was booked on charges of second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another. Wilkes County Sheriff Darrell Powers confirmed his office’s role in the arrest.
A welfare check means someone was already concerned enough to call. That detail, and how a check on a child escalated into a homicide investigation spanning two counties, is what investigators are still sorting out. What questions do you have about this case? Let us know in the comments.
