Police chief’s son beats his 3-year-old stepson to death with a belt

The son of a police chief beat his stepson to death because he wanted to discipline him, according to police in Georgia. Villa Rica Police police said that they have arrested 21-year-old Joshua David Richards, who is the son of Carrollton Police Chief Joel Richards, for beating his 3-year-old stepson, Brentley Gore. Joshua has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first-degree cruelty to children, and possession of marijuana. He is also facing a charge of murder. He was booked into the Carroll County Jail.
Carroll County Magistrate Judge Alton Johnson denied his request for bail, saying that he should worry about the child and not his freedom. According to the police investigation, Joshua got married several months ago and his wife is pregnant with their first child. Joshua helped raise Brentley in the family’s Hickory Falls Apartments.
On Tuesday morning, Joshua grabbed a belt and beat the child because he wanted to discipline him. The child’s mother was sleeping at the time. Later in the day, when she discovered that the child was unconscious, she called for help. The child was rushed to the child with massive injuries to his brain. He eventually died of his injuries. Richards claimed that he dropped the child by accident.