Woman arrested after 4-year-old found dead in Atlanta townhome

WASHINGTON, Ga. (WRDW/Gray News) - A woman was arrested Tuesday morning after a 4-year-old boy was found dead more than an hour away in an Atlanta townhome, authorities said.

Wilkes County Sheriff Darrell Powers said Jasmaine Smoak was arrested and booked into the Wilkes County Detention Center.

According to WRDW’s sister station, Atlanta News First, Atlanta police responded to a gated community in the 3500 block of Cardinal Drive SW on Monday night for a welfare check.

Officers forced their way into the home “based on information received during the welfare check,” Atlanta police said.

Once inside, officers found the child dead. Emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful, police said.

Powers said deputies worked closely with Atlanta homicide detectives to locate Smoak using license plate reader technology.

Smoak is charged with second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another.

Atlanta police said Smoak is a friend of the child’s mother.

The circumstances surrounding the boy’s death remain unclear.