3 Year Old Dies, Police Chief's Son Charged With Murder

VILLA RICA, GA — The son of the Carrollton Police Chief has been charged with murder in the beating death of his 3-year-old stepson, according to the AP and 11 Alive.

An investigation determined that Joshua Richards, 21, of Villa Rica, caused the injuries to the child, police said. Prosecutors claimed in court that Richards, the son of Carrollton Police Chief Joel Richards, used a belt to seriously injure 3-year-old Brentley Gore, according to 11 Alive.

Richards was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruelty to children – first degree and possession of marijuana on Jan. 23. The charge of murder was added to Richards' charges after Gore died while being treated for head injuries Jan. 28.

According to Metro, a GoFundMe page originally set up to fund his treatment revealed that Gore "underwent emergency surgery to remove a portion of his skull to relieve some of the pressure."

The Villa Rica Police were called to Hickory Falls Apartments, at 801 NE Hickory Level Rd., and discovered the injured child, Jan. 23. The child was airlifted to an Atlanta area hospital but died while being treated for his head injury.

Richards is currently being held at the Carroll County Jail, was denied bond at his first court appearance Wednesday and is reportedly on suicide watch, according to 11 Alive.

Villa Rica Police reported that the incident is still under investigation at this time.

For more details, go to the 11 Alive story.

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