On June 13, 2021, Henry County Police responded to Belmont Farms Drive in Ellenwood in reference to an unconscious 6-year-old. Officers arrived on scene and located the 6 year old who had shallow breathing, was unresponsive and had blood coming from the mouth. Henry County EMT’s arrived and immediately gave aid and transported the juvenile to Piedmont Henry Hospital. While being treated at Piedmont Henry, hospital staff reported to officers numerous bruises covering a majority of the juveniles body. The juvenile was flown via helicopter to Children’s Egleston Hospital and was ultimately placed on life support.
Henry County Police investigated the incident, arrested and charged the mother (DeShante Lashawn Beard, age 33) and the mother’s boyfriend (Less Thompson, age 29) for Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery and Cruelty to Children (1st degree). Both were booked into the Henry County Jail. On June 16 at 6:02 p.m., the juvenile was taken off life support. On Thursday, June 17, Henry County Police Detectives upgraded the charges on Ms. Beard and Mr. Thompson, both of which are now charged with Malice Murder and Felony Murder of the 6 year old juvenile.
