Dad, girlfriend charged with murder in death of 3-year-old son; what happened to this boy's mother? (Dodge County, Georgia)

So here's the unasked question: How did dad DAVID SMITH get access to this child? Is the mother deceased or "missing"? Was Dad awarded joint custody/visitation? Did he have full custody? What?

It is always crucial to find out what happened to the mother in these cases. Very typically, she was also the victim of the father's violence. If he didn't necessarily kill her out right or cause her to be "missing", he may have decided to go after his custody "rights" in order to punish her. This is a very typical abuser tactic.

So if he did get his "rights" the question then becomes who gave him access to this child, and whether the judge in question and/or assorted court personnel were privy to a history of domestic violence and/or child abuse that they chose to minimize or ignore.

http://bleckleydodgepulaski.13wmaz.com/news/news/224322-dodge-county-couple-charged-childs-death

Dodge County couple charged in child's death

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff

Monday, March 17th, 2014, 5:58pm

A Dodge County couple is charged with killing a 3-year-old.

That's according to Todd Lowery, special agent in charge of the GBI's Eastman office.

He says David Smith, the child's biological father, is charged with child cruelty and felony murder.

His girlfriend, Kaiko Smith, is charged with cruelty and malice murder. He said the couple is not married, and Kaiko Smith is not related to the young victim.

Lowery says it happened last Friday in the Arthur Cooper trailer park in Eastman. Officers arriving on the scene found young Zachary Smith severely injured. He later died at a local hospital and the couple was arrested that night.

Lowery would not discuss the child's injuries or the autopsy results.

He said the GBI's is still investigating the case.