By By Adam Prestridge For The Standard
At Atmore man was denied bail Tuesday after being charged with the Sunday murder of his 6-month-old son.
Christopher Thomas Johnson, 33, of Atmore was arrested and charged Sunday with capital murder in the death of his son Elias Ocean Johnson.
At approximately 9:17 a.m. Sunday morning, the APD responded to a 911 call to 103 West Horner Street Apartment B where it had been reported that a male infant was not breathing and non responsive, Brooks said. APD officers along with medics from Atmore Ambulance Service responded to the scene, and the child was transported to Atmore Community Hospital. An intensive effort to revive the child was unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m.
No foul play was suspected at the scene of the incident until hospital officials contacted APD officers after visible injuries to the child were observed. Upon arrival, investigators noted the injuries and immediately called in a forensic unit and began a criminal investigation into the child's death.
Following an extensive investigation, Christopher Thomas Johnson was arrested around 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. He is currently being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton, where he was transferred Monday morning.
Brooks said details leading up to the child's death can not be released due to the ongoing investigation.
According to police reports, Christopher Johnson has been arrested numerous times on various charges including armed robbery in Pensacola, larceny in Florida, burglary, theft, public intoxication, criminal trespassing and numerous failure to appear charges.
Capital murder is a Class A felony and is punishable by death or life in prison without parole.
A memorial service for the infant is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Atmore.