Georgia man who killed wife and child sentenced for murder. Here's what the judge said
A Georgia man will soon be behind bars for causing the death of his family.
Diamonte Haithcoats, 24, of Stone Mountain was convicted by jury trials on multiple charges for the deaths of his pregnant girlfriend, Shaniyah Rodriguez, 20, and their infant daughter, Milliani Rodriguez, according to a news release from the Dekalb County District Attorney's Office.
On Feb. 2, 2023, a resident at a condo complex in Clarkston reportedly heard gunshots and went out to investigate. He found Shaniyah Rodriguez lying on the ground unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head and called 911. The witness reported seeing a dark-colored SUV drive away from the area. Police reviewed Flock Safety cameras in the area that captured footage of what appeared to be a dark blue Hyundai Palisade leaving the complex.
Days after the shooting, police found the Palisade and confirmed it had been stolen. Data from Rodriguez's phone showed it had paired through Bluetooth to a device labeled "Palisade" just minutes before the 911 call. Detectives turned the victim's phone on near the recovered SUV and it automatically connected.
Data for Haithcoats' phone showed it left the complex immediately after Rodriguez's shooting. When interviewed by police, he reportedly tried to downplay the extent of his relationship with Rodriguez and would not admit to living with her nor being the father of her child. Investigators learned that, in the days before her death, Rodriguez confided in a friend that she and Haithcoats's relationship had started to deteriorate and that she feared for her safety while in a relationship with him.
Paramedics rushed Rodriguez to Grady Memorial Hospital where doctors performed an emergency caesarian to deliver her baby. Shaniyah Rodriguez died two days after the shooting. Her daughter, Milliani Rodriguez, died four months later on June 19, 2023.
Haithcoats was found guilty of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault – family violence, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Immediately following the guilty verdicts, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith, who presided over the trial, sentenced Haithcoats to two life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus five years.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Stone Mountain, GA man convicted of shooting pregnant girlfriend
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