What we know about 16-month-old victim of ‘suspicious death’
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A mother is asking for the community to “pray for us,” after losing her 16-month-old in what the coroner is calling a “suspicious death” as social media posts shed light on what kind of boy he was.
Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen isn’t elaborating on why Trae’son Dunn’s death is considered suspicious, but an autopsy is planned, and it should shed more light on that.
While it’s not clear whether a crime was committed, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office does say it is involved in the investigation.
Officers tell us that whenever a child is found deceased, the sheriff’s office investigates the circumstances surrounding the death.
Meanwhile, a second child was taken to a hospital after authorities responded Tuesday to a home in the 2200 block of Ward Avenue.
Bowen said his staff was called to the home and Trae’son was pronounced dead around 5:15 a.m. Tuesday.
By 1 p.m., Trae’son’s mother, Genysis Mortley, had shared her grief on Facebook:
It’s clearly been a difficult time for the 30-year-old mother, who also shared a short video on Facebook focusing on her late son and captioned, “I love you my Angel.”
Many of her Facebook posts focused on Trae’son, including when he was running for king at his day-care center in February:
And when he celebrated his first birthday in January:
Her social media posts show a large family gathering when Trae’son was christened on Dec. 1, 2024:
After Bowen’s staff was called to the home early Tuesday, he said the second child was taken to Children’s Hospital of Georgia by emergency medical crews.
The condition of the second child is unknown at this time.
This investigation is still in its early stages and no arrests have been made, according to the sheriff’s office.
A neighbor told News 12 what he saw early Tuesday at the home.
“Yeah, I came home from the gym around 5:30 after about three-hour workout, and as I’m approaching my home here, it’s about seven squad cars out, blue lights all over the place and everything,” Kenneth Blount said. “You know I’m looking. I’m thinking, ‘I can’t.’ I couldn’t make it to the house, but I was able to get through and basically it looked. It looked bad. Whatever happened. It didn’t look good.”
It’s been a difficult week in of public safety.
This comes one day after 25-year-old Jerome Burley, of Augusta, was shot at least once at The Landings @ 237 Apartments off Wrightsboro Road on Monday. He died at Doctors Hospital.
On Sunday night, two people were injured in a shooting incident in the Harrisburg area. Deputies say they arrested 17-year-old Devon McClain and 14-year-old Tiantrec Freeman in the incident.
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