Columbus father is now charged with murder in the death of a month-old baby, more than 16 months after the infant’s death

COLUMBUS, Georgia (WRBL) — A Columbus man was in court Friday morning charged with the 2022 murder of his 1-month-old son.

Delonta Williams, 23, is accused of killing his son Kentrell Leonard in what Columbus police are calling a “concussed baby death.”

The infant was just three weeks old when he was brought to Piedmont Columbus Regional by his father on July 27, 2022. The injured child suffered from multiple brain hemorrhages. The boy was almost immediately airlifted to Atlanta Children’s Hospital, where he died on August 9, 2022.

Columbus Police Sgt. Joseph Jackson told the court that Williams was originally charged with child cruelty. That charge was upgraded this week when autopsy results came back.

Williams has not been in custody since the day after the child was admitted to the hospital. He was arrested again on murder charges on Thursday.

“His handprints left bruises on the baby,” Jackson told the court.

Jackson was interviewed by police in July 2022.

“He stated that he didn’t like it … that he couldn’t really handle children crying,” Jackson told the court. “So when the mother was at home with him, he would leave if the child cried or made too much noise. This time he explained he was trying to get to sleep and get the baby to stop crying.”

The infant’s grandmother was in court this morning. Here’s what she told Judge Susan Henderson.

“I just wanted you to know that it was his son he did this to. His only child,” said an emotional Diane Roland.

Henderson replied, “I have no words for you, ma’am. I’m just sorry for your loss.”

Henderson found probable cause and sent the case to the Superior Court. Williams is being held without bail in the Muscogee County Jail.