Clayton News Daily

Ryan Edwards

MORROW — A Morrow father was indicted by a Clayton County grand jury Wednesday in the death of his 2-year-old son.

Ryan Russell Edwards is charged with malice murder, three counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery and four counts of cruelty to children.

Edwards is accused of killing his son, Mikkah Brown, by inflicting blunt-force head trauma and fracturing the child’s skull, according to the indictment.

The incident occurred Jan. 26, at 5915 Trammell Road in Morrow.

The child’s father was reportedly watching the toddler and his brother while the mother was at work, according to the arrest warrant.

Edwards “placed a belt around Mikkah Brown’s neck and swung him around like a rag doll causing severe injuries including skull fractures, brain swelling and subdural hemorrhaging which caused the death of Mikkah Brown,” alleged Clayton County Police Detective M. Lowe in the arrest warrant.

Edwards “did maliciously cause bodily harm to Mikkah Brown by seriously disfiguring a member of his body, fracturing the skull of Mikkah Brown,” the indictment further alleged.

“[The father] maliciously caused cruel and excessive physical pain, by boxing with the child, striking Mikkah Brown about the body with the accused’s hands,” the indictment added.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by one of the toddler’s siblings.

Edwards is also accused of discouraging one of the witnesses from obtaining medical attention for the child.

He was arrested Feb. 1, and made his initial appearance in Clayton County Magistrate Court Feb. 14.

Edwards remained in the Clayton County jail without bond at press time Thursday.