A Clayton County mother is defending the man police say punched her child.
Kembra Matthews is accused of punching his girlfriend's 4-year-old child in the stomach. Police say that during that same incident, the injured child's younger brother died.
Detectives said the incident happened on July 11 at the Tara Boulevard apartment of the children's mother, Ashley Harvey. Matthews was watching Harvey's four children. Police records indicate 4-year-old Ashton Capers was vomiting and 2-year-old Jayden Harvey looked fatigued when Matthew dropped the children off with a neighbor.
Doctors pronounced Jayden dead at a local hospital that same day.
The results of an autopsy performed on the 2-year-old have not been released.
A police affidavit indicates that a specialist interviewed Ashton this week. The child told authorities that Matthew punched him and even demonstrated the alleged action. Ashton also told authorities Matthew punched Jayden as well.
Despite the charges against him, Harvey told FOX 5 that she believes Matthews is innocent.
"I don't care what the police charge him with, because he did not do nothing," said Harvey, 26.
Harvey says she still needs answers as to exactly what happened to her children. Harvey, who is pregnant with another child, believes the entire explanation from police is questionable.
"You can't hit someone and put a hole in their intestines," said Harvey.
Harvey is upset that her three surviving children have been placed in the Department of Family and Children Services custody.
"Clayton County is taking everything from me. I have nothing," she said.
A judge denied bond for Matthews on Friday, so he remains in jail.
Clayton County police say they are awaiting autopsy results before deciding if Matthews will face charges in Jayden's death.
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