A Georgia father has been arrested and is facing multiple charges following the tragic death of his toddler son, who was discovered drowned in a bathtub last week.
Kenton Hamilton, 47, is facing multiple charges including murder in the second degree, second-degree cruelty to children, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and felony cocaine possession, as stated in the records of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.
The defendant was taken into custody the morning following the tragic loss of his son.
According to authorities, the incident took place on the evening of August 1st at a residence in Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta in the northwest region of Georgia.
Authorities from the Kennesaw Police Department swiftly responded to a distressing 911 call regarding a child who was unresponsive at a residence on Windsor Court, as reported by Atlanta-based NBC affiliate WXIA.
Emergency medical crews arrived shortly before 9 p.m. and made every effort to save the 17-month-old child, but unfortunately, their attempts were unsuccessful. The boy was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where medical professionals declared him deceased.
Investigators conducted further inquiries into the child’s unfortunate demise, examining both the residence and the hospital, as stated in the case documents.
According to reports, Hamilton claimed that he drifted off to sleep on the couch with his son resting on his chest. He was unaware that the child had moved away and only woke up when a friend woke him up. Following the discovery of the boy, the two adults made the decision to contact emergency services.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the defendant later informed investigators that the young boy, who was not yet 2 years old, had managed to walk up two flights of stairs, climb into the bathtub, and accidentally drown after turning on the water.
The child’s identity is being withheld, but law enforcement has confirmed that the deceased individual was Hamilton’s son. According to police reports, there was another child, aged 4, who was also sleeping on the couch at the time.
According to the police, during a search of the house, two baggies of cocaine were found underneath the couch cushions where both children and Hamilton had been sleeping. Additionally, it was reported that several firearms were discovered within the residence. According to court records in Cobb County, Hamilton, unfortunately, is not permitted to be in possession of firearms due to his status as a convicted felon.
The defendant has a conviction for statutory rape dating back to 1995. According to Cobb County records, a man with the same name has faced a number of additional charges, including a family violence conviction in 2021.
Hamilton’s court appearance for a bond hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21. According to jail records, he has not yet secured legal representation.