Kathleen man charged in death of girlfriend’s baby in Macon, deputies say

A man accused of killing his girlfriend’s baby in Macon was arrested Monday, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Willie George Northern Jr., a 24-year-old Kathleen man, was reportedly taking care of his girlfriend’s 6-month-old boy when he called 911 to report that the baby was “unresponsive” and “not breathing” before 8:30 p.m. Sunday, deputies said in a news release.

Northern told investigators that he “fed, swaddled, then laid the infant to rest,” deputies said. But then, “Northern later discovered the child was unresponsive and called 911.”

Deputies and paramedics responded to the call at a home on Fairmont Avenue, according to the sheriff’s office.

Paramedics took the infant to a children’s hospital, where he was “suffering from severe injuries and was in critical condition,” deputies said.

The infant was flown to an Atlanta children’s hospital for further treatment. Medical staff there said he died around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

While the infant was being treated, deputies took Northern to the BCSO’s Investigations Headquarters for questioning. He was identified as a suspect “in connection with the condition of the infant,” the news release said.

Northern was arrested and booked into the Bibb County Jail before 2 a.m. Monday. He was denied bond, Sgt. Christopher Williams told The Telegraph.

Northern was first charged with first-degree cruelty to children and tampering with evidence, then also charged with murder when the boy died, the sheriff’s office said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is expected to perform an autopsy on the baby Friday morning, according to Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones.

The sheriff’s office denied The Telegraph’s request for further details and an incident report describing what happened was not yet available.

This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 9:28 AM.