A Peach County jury convicted Christopher Palmer of murdering his 9-month-old son, Cody, nearly three years after the infant died from severe head injuries.
The jury rejected Palmer’s claim that the death was accidental, delivering a guilty verdict on all charges.
🚨 What Happened: Authorities discovered Cody Palmer in an RV outside a Buc-ee’s in Warner Robins in 2022. The infant had severe head injuries and was unresponsive.
• Palmer claimed the injuries were accidental, saying he dropped the baby into a sink while bathing him.
• Medical examinations revealed blunt force trauma inconsistent with an accident.
👁️ The Trial: Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting Palmer struck the infant multiple times.
• Cody’s injuries were described by law enforcement as consistent with child abuse.
• A jury convicted Palmer of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, child abuse, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
⚖️ The Sentence: Judge Connie Williford sentenced Palmer to life without parole, plus 10 years for firearm possession. Cody’s mother, Shelly Rooks, also faced charges but was deemed unfit to stand trial.
This verdict closes a nearly three-year investigation into Cody Palmer’s death, which authorities said was the result of intentional abuse.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
