Man put antifreeze in 18-day-old baby’s milk after girlfriend refused to have an abortion

A Georgia man will spend the next four decades behind bars for putting antifreeze in his baby’s breastmilk.

Curtis L. Jack, 48, was convicted Thursday of attempted murder and cruelty to children in Fulton County. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the South Fulton Police Department responded on Oct. 20, 2020, to the Children’s Health Care of Atlanta for a cruelty to children call. Hospital staff told officers that an 18-day-old baby tested positive for antifreeze in her system. The mother told police she was in the hospital after giving birth when she gave Jack 10 bags of breast milk to take to her mother’s house.

The child’s mother didn’t believe Jack nor her mom would poison the baby and did not know how antifreeze got into the baby’s system.

Detectives interviewed Jack, who initially denied putting the antifreeze in the milk.

“After speaking further to Mr. Jack and advising him to just tell the truth Mr. Jack stated that he did put antifreeze in the baby’s milk,” the arrest warrant said. “Mr. Jack stated he did not want the child and he told [the mother] to get rid of the child. Mr. Jack did state he was remorseful for what he did.”

South Fulton police said the mother decided to rebuff Jack’s request for an abortion and had the baby anyway. Ingesting even a small amount of antifreeze could lead to permanent damage to the brain and kidneys, according to Poison Control. The child survived the incident and is now OK, police said.

After serving the 40 years, Jack will be on probation for 10 years.

On Monday, Jack’s lawyers filed a motion asking for a new trial, claiming that the state did not provide sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jack was guilty. The judge has yet to rule.

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