Columbus man arrested, charged with murder in 4-year-old son’s death

A Columbus man wanted on a murder charge linked to the death of his 4-year-old son turned himself into authorities Tuesday evening.

Nathaniel Washington-Ghant III, 35, turned himself at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Public Safety Center. He was booked into the Muscogee County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in Columbus Recorder’s Court at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Columbus police said they were called to 4133 Willis St. on July 29, 2012, to check on an injured child, who was later identified as Nathaniel Washington-Ghant IV. His father was charged with first-degree cruelty to children in relation to the incident.

On Sept. 23, authorities were called to 3351 North Lumpkin Road Apartment 5102 to investigate an incident involving the same child, who was 4 years old at the time. Officials found him dead on the scene, according to a news release from Lt. Greg Touchberry.

Officials launched a death investigation into the incident on Jan 13. They were notified by the state medical examiner that the child’s manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was “delayed complications to traumatic brain injury,” Touchberry said.

By Jan. 26, a second-degree murder warrant was issued for Nathaniel Washington-Ghant III. Further details about the fatal incident have yet to be released.

This story was originally published February 15, 2017 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Columbus man arrested, charged with murder in 4-year-old son’s death."