Father of Baby Girl Found in Woods Charged With Murder

The father of an infant found dead inside a duffel bag in a wooded area in rural Georgia was charged.

Christopher McNabb, the father of two-week-old Caliyah McNabb, faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and concealing a death, 11Alive reported. He’s being held in the Newton County Jail on a probation violation charge, and he will appear in front of a judge Thursday, Oct. 12.

The girl went missing on Saturday afternoon. Her parents told police that she was fine when they fed and changed her at 5 a.m., but hours later, she was gone.

Caliyah’s mother, Courtney Bell, was taken to the police headquarters, where she issued a statement.

“My 2-year old says she’s gone. I’ve looked everywhere in the house and I don’t know another possibility,” said Bell to a Newton County 911 operator, WSB-TV reported.

The operator asked whether someone took her baby.

“Her blanket is gone. Her pacifier is on the floor. Her blanket is not with us,” said Bell. According to CBS, Bell was later released by police.

According to reports, before he was charged in connection with the case, McNabb had been telling people that he didn’t do it. WSB reported that as police searched the child, McNabb walked into a convenience store and told a clerk that he “didn’t do it.”

He was arrested on Sunday on a probation violation when he tried to escape police capture.

A coroner said the child suffered blunt force trauma to the head.

No bond was issued in McNabb’s case. It’s unclear if he has an attorney.