Quitman Man Charged with Aggravated Assault After 7-Week-Old Infant Suffers Numerous Broken Bones

QUITMAN, GA — A 20-year-old Quitman man is in custody following a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) probe into the severe physical abuse of a seven-week-old infant.

Emory Cole Williford was arrested on Monday, June 8, 2026, by GBI agents and Brooks County Sheriff’s Office deputies. He faces two counts of First-Degree Cruelty to Children and two counts of Aggravated Assault-Family Violence.

The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office initially requested state assistance with the case on May 27, 2026. Earlier that day, Williford and the infant’s mother brought the baby to a local hospital for medical evaluation. Due to the severity of the child’s condition, the infant was subsequently transferred to a specialized medical facility in Tallahassee, Florida.

Comprehensive medical testing performed at the hospital revealed that the seven-week-old infant had sustained numerous broken bones.

Following his arrest, Williford was transported and booked into the Brooks County Jail.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Once the GBI completes its case file, the documentation will be handed over to the Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for formal prosecution.

Law enforcement officials are encouraging anyone with information regarding this case to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomasville at (229) 225-4090. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visiting the GBI tip website, or utilizing the “See Something, Send Something” mobile application.