Infant found unresponsive at Buc-ee’s, parents arrested for child cruelty, murder

A 9 month-old has died, and his parents have been arrested in connection to the death, after investigation showed the child's history was consistent with abuse.

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A 9 month-old has died, and his parents have been arrested in connection to the death, after investigation showed the child’s history was consistent with abuse.

According to a Warner Robins Police Department news release, 40 year-old Christopher Scott Palmer of New York and 26 year-old Shelly Deanna Rooks of Waynesville were arrested after an incident on January 30 led to a child cruelty and murder investigation.

According to WRPD, officers were dispatched to Buc-ee’s on Russell Parkway around 9:53 p.m. to help Peach County EMS concerning a child not breathing. When officers arrived, they found a 9 month-old baby boy who, according to one of his parents, was dropped while being bathed inside their parked RV. The child was taken to Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, then airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for treatment. Investigation showed that that injuries found on the child– both past and present– were consistent with abuse. On Friday, February 4, around 4:45 a.m., it was reported that the 9 month-old had died. The Department of Family and Children Services in Peach County has taken custody of the child’s two juvenile siblings.

The mother and father are both being held in the Peach County Detention Center where they are both being charged with cruelty to children. The father, Christopher Palmer, is also being charged with felony murder and aggravated battery, while the mother, Shelly Rooks, is being charged with 2nd degree murder.

The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective John Richards and Detective Karmen Thompson. Anyone with information concerning this case is urged to call them at (478) 302-5380 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME.