Press Release: The Adairsville Police department has made an arrest for Murder in the Second Degree (Felony). Destiny Diane Wheat, 22 years of age, from 210 North Main Street in Adairsville, was arrested at about noon on Saturday the 23rd day of February.
On September 28, 2018 at about 9:00 a.m.,Adairsville Police along with Fire/First Responders responded to 210 North Main street in Adairsville due to an E.M.S. call of an infant not breathing. When Police arrived, they immediately smelled the odor of burning marijuana coming from within the residence. As police entered to assist, they went to a back bedroom and observed an infant that had a shallow heartbeat and was not breathing. Police and other responding units attempted CPR until the infant was transported by E.M.S. to Cartersville Medical Center. A short time later the infant was pronounced dead. DFACS was also immediately notified as the house was very unsanitary, including numerous dirty diapers, as well as an infestation of roach bugs, and clues to illegal drug usage.
After a lengthy investigation by Detective Sergeant Eric Burns including a forensic autopsy by the state crime lab, it was determined that negligence on the part of the mother was a contributing factor in the death of the infant. The infant, James Raylan Wheat, born 05-12-2018 had been wearing supplemental oxygen as part of an ongoing issue of sickness stemming from premature birth and other health related illness. It was discovered through the investigation that James had not been administered the oxygen as prescribed by doctors, according to the oxygen machine diagnostics. It was also discovered that the mother had checked the infant out of the hospital a little over a week earlier, with the warning from hospital staff that doing so could result in death of the infant.
Destiney Diane Wheat was arrested without incident and transported to the Bartow County jail. She was charged with Murder in the Second Degree (Felony), Cruelty to children in the Second Degree (Felony), and Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana less than 1 ounce.