Atlanta Couple Arrested in Death of Infant, Face Murder and Child Cruelty Charges
ATLANTA, Ga. – Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of an infant who was found unresponsive at an Atlanta residence in May, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
On Aug. 6, 2026, Atlanta Police Homicide detectives, assisted by the department’s Fugitive Unit, served an arrest warrant at a residence in the 1600 block of Mary George Avenue NW.
Investigators arrested James Hayes, 32, and Kennedi Ponder, 31, without incident. Both were transported to Atlanta Police Headquarters for interviews with homicide investigators.
Charges Filed
Hayes has been charged with:
- Second-Degree Murder
- Child Cruelty in the First Degree
- Child Cruelty in the Second Degree
- Child Cruelty in the First Degree – Deprivation of Necessary Sustenance
Ponder has been charged with:
- Child Cruelty in the First Degree
- Child Cruelty in the Second Degree
- Child Cruelty in the First Degree – Deprivation of Necessary Sustenance
Infant Found Unresponsive in May
The arrests stem from an investigation that began on Saturday, May 2, 2026, when officers responded at approximately 7:49 a.m. to a person-down call at a residence in the 1600 block of Mary George Avenue SW.
When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive infant.
Grady EMS transported the child to Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital, where the infant was pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts.
The Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit responded to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the infant’s body. Authorities have not publicly released the official cause and manner of death, which will be determined by the medical examiner.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police noted that the information released is preliminary and could change as additional evidence is gathered.
