Toddler’s Death Results in Murder Charge

The death of a toddler thought to have choked on a cookie has resulted in a murder charge against Willie Earl Sanders of Gray.

Mr. Sanders was arrested on October 17, during the investigation of the death of 21-month-old Preston Nelson and charged with aggravated battery, according to an article in The Jones County News. (Gray Police Dept. Major Chris Williams did not return calls Tuesday.) The murder charge came about on October 19, following the results of the child’s autopsy.

The obituary for Preston Nelson ran in The Monticello News last week, as his mother, Savannah Steele, and other family members and loved ones are from here.

Ms. Steele said she was in the grocery store while Mr. Sanders watched her baby in the car. When she came out, less than five minutes after speaking to the pair on the phone, her baby was lifeless. According to the newspaper report, two nurses who happened to be in the store were performing CPR on the toddler in the parking lot. The baby was taken to Navicent Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The major said the doctor told him the reported choking was incidental to the injuries of the toddler. “Essentially we were talking about a shaken baby.”

When contacted by this newspaper, Ms. Steele composed a statement:

Preston was a loving little boy who had a very loving family. Our family is still trying to heal after losing such an amazing little boy. We are very grateful for all of the support that has been shown to our family during such a difficult time.

Our little town has been very loving and supportive to a family who has suffered a tremendous loss. We ask that you continue to pray for us while we try to heal, find understanding and get through the coming days, weeks, and months without Preston here with us. The holidays will certainly not be the same in our homes because he’s gone.

There have been several false stories that have circulated surrounding the details of the case. The loss of such a loving little boy is more pain than a person should have to suffer. The publication or circulation of harmful and hateful untruths only continues to destroy a grieving family who has lost so much in the last five years.

There has been an arrest made by the Gray Police Department during their investigation into the incident. I cannot comment on their investigation, and I certainly do not know all of the details that they know, but I can tell you that we are trusting them to do their job with professionalism and without bias.

We at The News express our deepest sympathies to the family, and remind everyone there has been an account set up at the Bank of Monticello to assist the family at this time. .