Ringgold man killed in Catoosa County wreck

RINGGOLD — A Ringgold man was killed early Tuesday morning after he was thrown from his vehicle in a single-car wreck, troopers say.

According to Georgia State Patrol Trooper First Class Brian Dedmon, the incident occurred around 5 a.m., and killed 19-yearold Michael Brown of Ringgold.

Dedmon says Brown wasn’t wearing a seatbelt when the wreck occurred on Hooper Road.

“Mr. Brown lost control of his vehicle,” Dedmon said. “He was not wearing his seatbelt. The vehicle overturned and he was ejected.”

Dedmon said Brown was on his phone at the time of the wreck, but that luckily, no one else was injured.

“He was texting and driving,” Dedmon said. “There were no other vehicles involved or any other injuries.”

Adam Cook, The Catoosa County News

Warrant: Mother charged with shaking death of her child

MARIETTA — A Marietta woman faces murder charges after allegedly shaking her 10-month-old daughter so hard it killed her, according to an arrest warrant.

Sadai Higgenbotham is charged with murder, felony aggravated battery and felony cruelty to children, according to the warrant.

Police say Higgenbotham’s shaking caused her daughter, Laura, to develop serious brain injuries that led to her losing all brain function.

The warrant cites medical professionals who said the injuries were more than a day old before the child was admitted to the hospital, suggesting the baby was suffering for a period of time before treatment.

Higgenbotham was arrested Aug. 6 and is being held without bond at the Cobb jail.

A Marietta man was arrested Aug. 8 in relation to the case.

A warrant states Sidrick Melancon told Higgenbotham and a witness to lie to police about what happened to the child.

Melancon is charged with two felony counts of influencing witnesses and is being held without bond, jail records show. By staff reports, Marietta Daily Journal

Former city manager sentenced to prison for theft

CANTON — A judge sentenced a former Waleska city manager and clerk in Cherokee County Superior Court for stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of city monies during her time in office.

Aimee Abernathy negotiated a plea under the First Offender Act and pleaded guilty to two felony counts of theft by taking Aug. 18, according to the formal sentence documents. Superior Court Senior Judge Frank C. Mills sentenced Abernathy to a total of 15 years, two of which she will serve in confinement and the remainder under supervision.

In addition to her timed served, Abernathy must pay $37,821 in restitution to Gallagher Bassett, the insurance company for the city of Waleska. Within 30 days after her release from custody, she will make payments toward the monies owed at a base rate of $300 per month, the document states.

Charges were brought against Abernathy after allegations surfaced that she had made fraudulent payroll payments to herself during her almost five years serving the city, court documents show.

Police previously told the Cherokee Tribune she used the city’s MasterCard and Staples account for personal purchases totaling approximately $8,000.

Madison Hogan, The Cherokee Tribune