News

On January 9, 2025, Elbert Patterson Jr. was convicted by a Carroll County Jury of Aggravated Battery under the Family Violence Act for brutally abusing his twelve-month-old child. Judge Dustin Hightower presided over the trial and sentenced Patterson to serve 20 years in the Department of Corrections.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Wade Mason, Assistant District Attorney Jared Parrish, and Chief Investigator Becky Byrd prosecuted the case for the State. Investigators with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation which revealed that Patterson was alone with the child on April 25, 2019. On that date, the mother went home from work to find the Defendant Patterson in bed with the twelve month old child; the child was not responsive and not breathing. The mother then called 911 and received instruction on CPR (which she performed) until emergency medical professionals arrived on scene. The child was taken to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital at Scottish Rite. A medical examination showed that the child had sustained catastrophic brain injuries and that they were only consistent with severe abusive head trauma while in the care of Patterson.

The West Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office is committed to seeking justice for victims of abuse. This case serves as an example of the coordination between multiple organizations in our community and their commitment to protect our children from abuse and bringing their abusers to justice. Above all, the District Attorney’s Office commends the strength and bravery of all citizens whose lives have been impacted by child abuse and will continue to work to see justice done when children are harmed. The District Attorney’s Office specifically is thankful to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the medical professionals that worked on this case from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the mother of the child who showed courage in following through with the prosecution and justice for her son.