9 months ago
<<opening for eyewitness news at six>> "You killed a child and I want to know why. And I'm going to ask. Deep down in my heart I want to know why. What was the reason for this."
A COCHRAN FAMILY SAYS IT WANTS ANSWER'S FROM A BABY'S ACCUSED KILLER.
HELLO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M FRANK MALLOY..THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX.
LEAH JOHNSON HAS THE NIGHT OFF..
A BLECKLEY COUNTY FAMILY MOURNS THE LOSS OF A15-MONTH OLD BABY...AND A COCHRAN MAN IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.
A JUDGE DENIED BOND FOR 22 YEAR OLD QWEON (KWEE-ON) GRANT TODAY.
VANESSA RUFFES SHOWS YOU HOW THE BABY'S FAMILY IS DEALING WITH THEIR GRIEF...AND WHAT QUESTIONS THEY SAY ARE LEFT UNANSWERED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
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Vernice Hill, Cochran "He sat here, in my grandmother's house all day, all night with us--knowing he did something, and acted like he didn't do it."
VERNICE HILL REMEMBERS HER 15-MONTH-OLD NIECE AMIRCLE SHAW AS A "HAPPY-GO-LUCKY BABY"...ALWAYS SMILING. ALWAYS PLAYFUL. SHE SAYS NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND THE GRIEF HER FAMILY BEARS... KNOWING THOSE MEMORIES ARE ALL THEY HAVE NOW.
AMIRCLE'S MOTHER...SHAQUINDA SHAW SAYS SHE WAS ASLEEP EARLY TUESDAY MORNING WHEN HER LIVE-IN BOYFRIEND QWEON GRANT WOKE HER AND SAID AMIRCLE WASN'T BREATHING. EMERGENCY CREWS RUSHED THE BABY TO THE HOSPITAL.
Vernice Hill, Cochran "A little after 4 that's when they told us. They did everything they could and it was no help."
COCHRAN POLICE CHIEF KEY MCGUIRE SAYS AN AUTOPSY SHOWED THE BABY HAD BEEN STRANGLED. HILL SAYS THE NEWS BECAME EVEN MORE DEVASTATING...AFTER POLICE ARRESTED HER SISTER'S BOYFRIEND...QWEON GRANT.
Vernice Hill, Cochran "Never thought nothing about it until this happened. But you never know what goes through somebody's head until it's done."
HILL SAYS FOR HER SISTER SHAQUINDA AND FOR THE FAMILY...THE LOSS IS TOO GREAT FOR WORDS . IT'S A LOSS THEY NEVER SAW COMING... SHE SAYS...BECAUSE GRANT SEEMED TO GET ALONG WITH SHAW'S CHILDREN.
Vernice Hill, Cochran "This child never did nothing to hurt you, never harmed you in any kind of way. But you killed a child and I want to know why. And I'm going to ask. Deep down in my heart I want to know why. What was the reason for this."
BUT EVEN FINDING THAT ANSWER...HILL SAYS...WON'T BRING BACK WHAT HER FAMILY LOST THAT DAY. VANESSA RUFFES 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS. >>
SHAQUINDA SHAW SAYS AMIRCLE'S (A-MIRACLE'S) FUNERAL WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AT 11 A-M.
IT WILL BE AT FRIENDLY FUNERAL HOME.
THAT'S ON NORTH SEVENTH STREET IN COCHRAN.
SHE SAYS ANYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.
THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SIGNED OFF ON A NEW GEORGIA LAW AIMED AT KEEPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS SAFE FROM THEIR ABUSERS.
UNDER GEORGIA'S NEW VOTE SAFE LAW.. A VICTIM'S VOTING ADDRESS CAN STAY SECRET....IF THEY ARE UNDER A PROTECTIVE ORDER.... OR A RESTRAINING ORDER OR.... LIVE IN A FAMILY VIOLENCE SHELTER.
CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE WITH HODAC... ALYSON MATTOX SAYS THIS HELPS VICTIMS GAIN SOME CONTROL BACK IN THEIR LIVES.
Alyson Mattox "They would be able to go and vote and feel confident and safe that they can do that without the perpetrator finding them and hurting them again, not disclosing any of their information would help them in feeling safe and regaining some of their independence"
THE GEORGIA COMMISSION ON FAMILY VIOLENCE SAYS
MORE THAN 7700 HUNDRED VICTIMS AND CHILDREN HAD TO STAY IN ONE OF THE STATE'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS LAST YEAR. THEY SAY ANOTHER 3300 WERE TURNED AWAY DUE TO LACK OF SPACE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HODAC AND THEIR SERVICES CALL 478-953-5675. AGAIN THAT NUMBER 478-953-5675.
A JUDGE SAYS THERE WILL BE NO RECOUNT.. OR REVOTE.. IN A DISPUTED CITY OF GRAY ELECTION.
JUDGE H. GIBBS FLANDERS TODAY REJECTED A REQUEST BY ROOSTER COGBURN..
COGBURN LOST TO INCUMBENT LORETTA LIPSEY BY FIVE VOTES FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR PRO-TEM BUT VOTING MACHINES REJECTED FIVE BALLOTS.
COGBURN WANTED A RECOUNT OF THE VOTES OR A NEW ELECTION.
BUT THE JUDGE SAID 'NO'.
FLANDERS WROTE THAT COGBURN HAD NOT PROVED THERE WAS ANY MISCONDUCT OR FRAUD....OR A VOTE-COUNTING ERROR.
POLICE SAY A MILLEDGEVILLE WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH STEALING MORE THAN 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM HER EMPLOYERS.
A MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE REPORT SAYS 58-YEAR-OLD WANDA HESTER WAS ARRESTED THIS WEEK AND CHARGED WITH DOZENS OF COUNTS OF CHECK FORGERY.
HESTER WORKED AT OCONEE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES IN MILLEDGEVILLE..
THE POLICE REPORT SAID SHE FORGED THE NAMES OF SEVERAL DOCTORS ON CHECKS AND CASHED THEM.
SHE'S BEEN RELEASED ON BOND FROM THE BALDWIN COUNTY JAIL.
WITH HOURS TO GO BEFORE DOWNTOWN MACON RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR ...MACON POLICE SAY THEY'RE STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT.
EACH MONTH...THE DOWNTOWN HOSTS FIRST FRIDAY...WHEN PEOPLE CAN CARRY DRINKS OUTDOORS IN A FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE.
TOMORROW...THEY'RE HOLDING FIRST FRIDAY...ON THURSDAY...TO HELP WELCOME 2010.
LAUREN DISPIRITO SHOW'S YOU WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ENSURE THE FUN...AND KEEP DRUNK DRIVERS OFF THE ROADS THIS HOLIDAY.
THERE'S JUST ONE DAY TO GO...
nats "we ordered 13,000 cups"
AND GROUPS AND BUSINESSES GEAR UP FOR CROWDS ...AS THE CITY ROLLS FIRST FRIDAY .. AND A NEW BALL DROP... INTO ONE DOWNTOWN NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENT.
Chad Evans "As far as the sort of happy accident of it happening on new years eve i think its perfect and i'm excited to see what happens"
JUST LIKE OTHER FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS, THAT MEANS THURSDAY NIGHT...FOLKS WITH WRISTBANDS AND DESIGNATED CUPS CAN TAKE THEIR DRINKS WITH THEM...AS THEY HOP FROM BAR TO BAR ON CHERRY STREET....BETWEEN SECOND STREET AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD.
Chad Evans "I'm really happy to see more people coming to see what we're doing down here"
AT THE ROOKERY, OWNER CHAD EVANS SAYS IT WILL BE BUSINESS AS USUAL...EXCEPT FOR THE CHAMPAGNE ON HAND.
Nats restaurant
BUT AS FOLKS TOAST TO 2010...OFFICER AUSTIN RILEY SAYS MACON POLICE WILL USE ITS DUI TASK FORCE...AND AT LEAST SEVENTY FIVE MORE PATROL OFFICERS...TO KEEP THE CELEBRATION SAFE.
Austin Riley: "we will be looking for people that are showing the signs of intoxicated driving"
HE SAYS THEY'LL ENFORCE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DRUNK DRIVING...AND EVANS SAYS LIKE OTHER NIGHTS, HE'LL BE ON THE LOOK OUT TOO.
Chad Evans: "it's something everybody's concerned about, but we take all the necessary precautions calling taxis, making sure folks have drivers"
RILEY SAYS HE WANTS FOLKS TO ENJOY THE CITY'S FIRST CHERRY BLOSSOM BALL DROP...BUT TO ENJOY IT RESPONSIBILY.
austin riley: "we recommend to all the public that if you're going to drink this weekend to please have a designated driver"
LAUREN DISPIRITO
13 WMAZ
EYEWITNESS NEWS
THIS YEAR...THE DOWNTOWN GREETS THE NEW YEAR WITH WHAT THEY CALL THE CHERRY BLOSSOM BALL DROP.
THEY SAY A SIX-FOOT METAL BALL WITH PINK LIGHTS WILL DROP FROM A TOWER AT CHERRY AND THIRD STREETS.
AND A STREET PARTY INCLUDING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BEGINS AT 9 P-M.
KWANZAA IS IN FULL SWING... AND IF YOU'RE IN MACON TONIGHT...YOU CAN TAKE PART IN A TOWN HALL MEETING.
THE KWANZAA CULTURE ACCESS CENTER WILL HOLD A MEETING ON ISSUES CONCERNING THE MACON-BIBB COUNTY BLACK POPULATION.
IT'S AT THE ROSA JACKSON COMMUNITY CENTER TONIGHT AT 7 O'CLOCK.
THAT'S ON MAYNARD STREET IN THE FORT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN CALL 478-952-8218.
AGAIN THAT NUMBER IS 478-952-8218.
AND TOMORROW.... YOU CAN CELEBRATE THE CREATIVITY KWANZAA FEAST.
IT STARTS AT 5 P-M AT HOMELAND VILLAGE.
THAT'S AT 29-10 NAPIER AVENUE.
SOME FOLKS HAVE STARTED PACKING UP THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
TODAY'S 13-W-M-A-Z DOT COM WEB POLL ASKS...
WHEN DO YOU TAKE DOWN YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS?
56 PERCENT SAY BY NEW YEARS DAY.
27 PERCENT OF YOU SAY DECEMBER 26TH.
17 PERCENT SAY LATER.
VOTE RIGHT NOW.
LOOK FOR THE WEB POLL QUESTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOMEPAGE.
AFTER MONTH'S OF CONTROVERSY... WARNER ROBINS CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO TERMINATE CITY CLERK STAN MARTIN..
THE UNANIMOUS VOTE CAME TUESDAY NIGHT ..
COUNCIL'S DECISION CAME AFTER A G-B-I INVESTIGATION INTO ACCUSATIONS THAT MARTIN... AND ANOTHER CITY EMPLOYEE... BROKE INTO THE OFFICE OF THE LATE MAYOR DONALD WALKER.
STAN MARTIN JOINS US NOW..
Martin discusses indicent
FOLKS ARE STILL ADDING HOLIDAY PICTURES TO THE GALLERIES ON 13-W-M-A-Z DOT COM.
THIS IS HUNTER SHOWING OFF HIS NEW BIKE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.... WE'LL BE BACK TONIGHT AT 11.
BUT REMEMBER...THE NEWS IS ALWAYS ON AT 13WMAZ.COM !
THE EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC IS UP NEXT.
HAVE A SAFE NIGHT EVERYONE.
