Grandfather of newborn found dead: ‘He done something to that baby’

Caliyah McNabb was reported missing from Covington home Saturday morning. She was found dead in the woods Sunday.

Credit: McNabb family WSB-TV

Credit: McNabb family WSB-TV

Caliyah McNabb was reported missing from Covington home Saturday morning. She was found dead in the woods Sunday.

Christopher McNabb has not been charged in connection with the death of his newborn daughter. But the baby’s grandfather feels certain McNabb should be in jail.

“He done something to that baby,” Tim Bell, Caliyah McNabb’s grandfather, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Caliyah McNabb was reported missing from her room in the Eagle Mobile Home Park late Saturday morning, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. She was found dead Sunday in woods behind the family’s home.

The baby’s father initially eluded investigators after his daughter was found. McNabb jumped out of a vehicle and ran Sunday afternoon, according to the Sheriff’s Office, but was later located and taken into custody. A convenience store employee recognized McNabb and called police, Channel 2 Action News reported. Witnesses at the store said that McNabb yelled that he “didn’t do it” before he was taken into custody.

Sunday evening, McNabb was arrested on an unrelated probation violation, Capt. Keith Crum said. Crum said Monday morning that investigators did not have probable cause to charge anyone in connection with the baby’s death.

"We've got a dead child, but we don't know what caused the death,” Crum said.

An autopsy was conducted Monday by the GBI, but preliminary findings have not been released.