Smyrna Woman Hid Baby in Toilet Before Being Killed by Baby's Father

A Smyrna woman who was shot and killed by the father of her six-month-old child last week died a hero, her family told WSB Radio earlier this week.

Jessica Arrendale, 33, was hiding in the bathroom of a townhome in the 6000 block of Sawtooth Oak Court with her six-month-old daughter Colbie when she was killed by Colbie’s father Antoine Davis, 30 around midnight on Sept. 14. As Arrendale was killed, however, she managed to hide Colbie inside the toilet, potentially saving its life.

Arrendale’s mother told WSB that the trouble began on the evening of Sept. 13 after Davis, a Marine veteran who had served in Iraq, became belligerently drunk while the couple were out for the evening. The mother claims that Davis had abused Arrendale before, but she refused to leave him.

Once they got home, Davis allegedly chased Arrendale up the three flights of stairs at her townhome. Arrendale tried to defend herself and Colbie with a baseball bat, WSB Radio said, but Davis overpowered her and turned the weapon on her. Arrendale’s mother said Colbie may have also been struck in the head with the bat.

Arrendale managed to escape from Davis and hide herself and Colbie in the locked bathroom. Davis allegedly grabbed an assault rifle equipped with a suppressor, then forcibly entered the bathroom and shot Arrendale once in the head.

As she was falling to the floor, Arrendale somehow managed to conceal Colbie in the toilet and fall on top of the seat, concealing the child. Arrendale’s mother suspects that Davis would have killed Colbie had he seen her. Davis then left the bathroom, went to Colbie’s room, and killed himself.

Police and SWAT units entered the townhome at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday following a 14-hour standoff. Officers discovered Davis and Arrendale dead and found Colbie in the toilet. She is being treated for hypothermia at Scottish Rite Hospital and will be given to her grandmother, WSB Radio said.

Arrendale’s friends have set up an online fundraiser to defray the costs of her funeral and to pay for the education of Arrendale’s two children. So far, the fundraiser has surpassed the target goal of $10,000.

Photo Credit: Arrendale Family/WSB Radio