Toccoa Man Facing Charges in Death of Franklin County Toddler

A Toccoa man is facing charges in the death of Franklin County toddler.

On Tuesday, Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas announced the arrest of 48-year old Willie Deshone Spencer of Toccoa.

Spencer is charged with cruelty to children in the first degree.

In a press release issued Tuesday, Thomas said on Friday, August 10th, deputies were called to a residence on Williams Bridge Road off GA Highway 320 where a child had reportedly fallen from a stairway and was found unresponsive.

The Sheriff said a preliminary investigation determined that the toddler had injuries that were identified as physical child abuse.

Franklin County Emergency Medical Services transported the child to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center where the child was then life flighted to Egleston Children hospital in Atlanta.

Thomas confirmed the three-year old died the following Sunday, August 12, at Egleston.

An autopsy was conducted on Wednesday, August 15, at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s, Medical Examiner’s Office.

According to Thomas his investigators and Medical Examiners are continuing the investigation to determine the exact cause of death. More charges could be forthcoming once their investigation is completed.