Latest news with #ShaniyahRodriguez
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
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@ This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Stone Mountain, GA man convicted of shooting pregnant girlfriend
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man found guilty of killing pregnant girlfriend in DeKalb County
A 24-year-old Stone Mountain man has been convicted of the death of his pregnant girlfriend, which led to the baby's death four months later, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office announced. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Friday, a DeKalb County jury found Diamonte Haithcoats, 24, of Stone Mountain, guilty of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault (family violence) and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. A judge sentenced Haithcoats to two life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus five years. The conviction stems from the February 2023 shooting of Haithcoat's girlfriend, Shaniyah Rodriguez, 20, and the death of her baby, Milliani Rodriguez. According to investigators, a resident at a condominium complex on Old Singleton Lane in unincorporated Clarkston heard gunshots around 5:45 a.m. and went outside to investigate. RELATED STORIES: DeKalb man accused of killing pregnant girlfriend wants police interrogation thrown out Man accused of killing pregnant girlfriend 'combative,' doesn't show up to court Pregnant woman was killed in DeKalb shooting. Four months later, her baby born prematurely has died There, he found Shaniyah Rodriguez lying on the ground unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head. The resident called the police and DeKalb County police responded. Shaniyah Rodriguez was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where doctors performed an emergency C-section. Shaniyah Rodriguez died two days later. Her daughter, Milliani Rodriguez, died on June 19, 2023. According to DeKalb investigators, they found seven rifle shell casings from the scene. Witnesses told police they spotted a dark-colored SUV drive away from the area where Rodriguez was found. Police said a dark blue Hyundai Palisade was spotted on Flock cameras leaving the complex at 5:46 a.m. Days after the shooting, police found the Palisade and confirmed it had been stolen. Several investigators testified during the murder trial on Wednesday and said phone records proved Haithcoats was guilty of killing Shaniyah Rodriguez. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Investigators said Rodriguez's phone connected via bluetooth to Haithcoat's Hyundai Palisade. Phone data also revealed that Haithcoats left the complex right after the victim's murder. Investigators said when they interviewed Haithcoasts, he tried to downplay the extent of his relationship with the victim, and would not admit to living with her nor being the child's father. Investigators said they also 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.
