Topline: A man who court records show was under electronic monitoring has been charged with murder after a 6-month-old infant died days after being hospitalized with severe injuries.
Published: January 8, 2026 5:31 pm ET
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Willie George Northern Jr. (via Bibb County Sheriff's Office)
MACON, GA — A 24-year-old man who was supposed to be on house arrest is now facing a murder charge after a 6-month-old infant died from severe injuries following a 911 call to a residence in another county.
Bibb County deputies were dispatched to a home on Fairmont Avenue at 8:26 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, after a report of a newborn infant not breathing, according to a news release from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies identified Willie George Northern Jr. of Kathleen at the residence, where he told them he had been watching his girlfriend’s infant son.
According to the sheriff’s office, Northern said he fed the child, swaddled him and laid him down to rest before later finding the baby unresponsive and calling 911. An incident report cited by the Macon Telegraph states the infant had been placed on an air mattress on top of a blanket and that Northern told deputies he took a shower before returning to find the baby face down in the bedding and having difficulty breathing.
Paramedics transported the child to Atrium Health Navicent Children’s Hospital, where medical staff discovered the infant had suffered severe injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. The baby, later identified by Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones as Myles Walker, born July 1, 2025, was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta and remained in critical condition.
Doctors found a frontal hematoma, multiple brain bleeds and a fractured collarbone before the infant died late Tuesday night, Jones told WMAZ. Medical staff reported the death at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, according to the sheriff’s office, and Jones said the next of kin has been notified.
Northern was taken to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and was arrested just before 2 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5. He was initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and tampering with evidence, according to the sheriff’s office. After the infant’s death, investigators obtained a warrant charging Northern with murder in connection with the case. He remains in custody at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Authorities confirmed Northern was wearing an ankle monitoring device at the time of his arrest. Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards told WMAZ that Northern was supposed to be on house arrest at his Kathleen home with electronic monitoring and that only a judge could have authorized him to be at his girlfriend’s Fairmont Avenue residence Sunday night.
Court records reviewed the Macon Telegraph show Northern was out on bond in a Houston County armed robbery case unrelated to the infant’s death. In that case, he was indicted on charges including robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony stemming from a November 2024 incident. A Superior Court judge granted him a $50,000 bond in January 2025 with conditions including electronic monitoring and no contact with the alleged victim or a co-defendant.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said the circumstances of the infant’s death were considered domestic violence. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is scheduled to conduct an autopsy on Myles Walker on Friday morning at its DeKalb County facility, according to the coroner and law enforcement officials.
Neighbors and community members told WMAZ they were shaken by the infant’s death. Julie Harrell, the property manager where the child lived, said she had recently met the family and described the baby as “absolutely precious.” Harrell, whose own son was murdered several years ago, said, “Being a mother who has lost a child is devastating. My heart goes out to her and the family because I definitely know how it feels.”
Christy Holt, who lives next door, told the station the news was overwhelming. “I’m a mother of three, and just to hear that, I’m almost like going to cry,” Holt said. “I don’t know the circumstances or anything, but that is terrible, that is really terrible.”
Northern is expected to make his first court appearance on the murder charge Thursday afternoon at the Bibb County Jail, according to jail records.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Man Supposed to Be on House Arrest Now Charged in Death of Girlfriend’s Infant
A man who court records show was under electronic monitoring has been charged with murder after a 6-month-old infant died days after being hospitalized with severe injuries.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 8, 2026 5:31 pm ET
Willie George Northern Jr. (via Bibb County Sheriff's Office)
MACON, GA — A 24-year-old man who was supposed to be on house arrest is now facing a murder charge after a 6-month-old infant died from severe injuries following a 911 call to a residence in another county.
Bibb County deputies were dispatched to a home on Fairmont Avenue at 8:26 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, after a report of a newborn infant not breathing, according to a news release from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies identified Willie George Northern Jr. of Kathleen at the residence, where he told them he had been watching his girlfriend’s infant son.
According to the sheriff’s office, Northern said he fed the child, swaddled him and laid him down to rest before later finding the baby unresponsive and calling 911. An incident report cited by the Macon Telegraph states the infant had been placed on an air mattress on top of a blanket and that Northern told deputies he took a shower before returning to find the baby face down in the bedding and having difficulty breathing.
Paramedics transported the child to Atrium Health Navicent Children’s Hospital, where medical staff discovered the infant had suffered severe injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. The baby, later identified by Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones as Myles Walker, born July 1, 2025, was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta and remained in critical condition.
Doctors found a frontal hematoma, multiple brain bleeds and a fractured collarbone before the infant died late Tuesday night, Jones told WMAZ. Medical staff reported the death at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, according to the sheriff’s office, and Jones said the next of kin has been notified.
Northern was taken to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and was arrested just before 2 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5. He was initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and tampering with evidence, according to the sheriff’s office. After the infant’s death, investigators obtained a warrant charging Northern with murder in connection with the case. He remains in custody at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Authorities confirmed Northern was wearing an ankle monitoring device at the time of his arrest. Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards told WMAZ that Northern was supposed to be on house arrest at his Kathleen home with electronic monitoring and that only a judge could have authorized him to be at his girlfriend’s Fairmont Avenue residence Sunday night.
Court records reviewed the Macon Telegraph show Northern was out on bond in a Houston County armed robbery case unrelated to the infant’s death. In that case, he was indicted on charges including robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony stemming from a November 2024 incident. A Superior Court judge granted him a $50,000 bond in January 2025 with conditions including electronic monitoring and no contact with the alleged victim or a co-defendant.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said the circumstances of the infant’s death were considered domestic violence. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is scheduled to conduct an autopsy on Myles Walker on Friday morning at its DeKalb County facility, according to the coroner and law enforcement officials.
Neighbors and community members told WMAZ they were shaken by the infant’s death. Julie Harrell, the property manager where the child lived, said she had recently met the family and described the baby as “absolutely precious.” Harrell, whose own son was murdered several years ago, said, “Being a mother who has lost a child is devastating. My heart goes out to her and the family because I definitely know how it feels.”
Christy Holt, who lives next door, told the station the news was overwhelming. “I’m a mother of three, and just to hear that, I’m almost like going to cry,” Holt said. “I don’t know the circumstances or anything, but that is terrible, that is really terrible.”
Northern is expected to make his first court appearance on the murder charge Thursday afternoon at the Bibb County Jail, according to jail records.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Supposed to Be on House Arrest Now Charged in Death of Girlfriend’s Infant
A man who court records show was under electronic monitoring has been charged with murder after a 6-month-old infant died days after being hospitalized with severe injuries.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 8, 2026 5:31 pm ET
Willie George Northern Jr. (via Bibb County Sheriff's Office)
MACON, GA — A 24-year-old man who was supposed to be on house arrest is now facing a murder charge after a 6-month-old infant died from severe injuries following a 911 call to a residence in another county.
Bibb County deputies were dispatched to a home on Fairmont Avenue at 8:26 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, after a report of a newborn infant not breathing, according to a news release from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies identified Willie George Northern Jr. of Kathleen at the residence, where he told them he had been watching his girlfriend’s infant son.
According to the sheriff’s office, Northern said he fed the child, swaddled him and laid him down to rest before later finding the baby unresponsive and calling 911. An incident report cited by the Macon Telegraph states the infant had been placed on an air mattress on top of a blanket and that Northern told deputies he took a shower before returning to find the baby face down in the bedding and having difficulty breathing.
Paramedics transported the child to Atrium Health Navicent Children’s Hospital, where medical staff discovered the infant had suffered severe injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. The baby, later identified by Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones as Myles Walker, born July 1, 2025, was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta and remained in critical condition.
Doctors found a frontal hematoma, multiple brain bleeds and a fractured collarbone before the infant died late Tuesday night, Jones told WMAZ. Medical staff reported the death at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, according to the sheriff’s office, and Jones said the next of kin has been notified.
Northern was taken to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and was arrested just before 2 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5. He was initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and tampering with evidence, according to the sheriff’s office. After the infant’s death, investigators obtained a warrant charging Northern with murder in connection with the case. He remains in custody at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Authorities confirmed Northern was wearing an ankle monitoring device at the time of his arrest. Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards told WMAZ that Northern was supposed to be on house arrest at his Kathleen home with electronic monitoring and that only a judge could have authorized him to be at his girlfriend’s Fairmont Avenue residence Sunday night.
Court records reviewed the Macon Telegraph show Northern was out on bond in a Houston County armed robbery case unrelated to the infant’s death. In that case, he was indicted on charges including robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony stemming from a November 2024 incident. A Superior Court judge granted him a $50,000 bond in January 2025 with conditions including electronic monitoring and no contact with the alleged victim or a co-defendant.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said the circumstances of the infant’s death were considered domestic violence. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is scheduled to conduct an autopsy on Myles Walker on Friday morning at its DeKalb County facility, according to the coroner and law enforcement officials.
Neighbors and community members told WMAZ they were shaken by the infant’s death. Julie Harrell, the property manager where the child lived, said she had recently met the family and described the baby as “absolutely precious.” Harrell, whose own son was murdered several years ago, said, “Being a mother who has lost a child is devastating. My heart goes out to her and the family because I definitely know how it feels.”
Christy Holt, who lives next door, told the station the news was overwhelming. “I’m a mother of three, and just to hear that, I’m almost like going to cry,” Holt said. “I don’t know the circumstances or anything, but that is terrible, that is really terrible.”
Northern is expected to make his first court appearance on the murder charge Thursday afternoon at the Bibb County Jail, according to jail records.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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