May 22, 2014
Death of Five Year Old in Forsyth Being Investigated as Homicide
Forsyth, GA – An autopsy of five year old, Heaven Woods, determined the cause of her death to be blunt force trauma to the abdomen. The autopsy of Heaven was done at the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta where the medical examiner determined the five year old also had multiple other injuries, new and old.
Heaven’s mother, Amanda Hendrickson, 33, and Roderick Buckner, 34, have each been charged with Felony Cruelty to Children First Degree. Hendrickson has also been charged with Giving a False Statement. The charges are related to Heaven’s death and it is expected additional charges are forthcoming. District Attorney Richard Milam will determine what additional charges will be brought as the investigation proceeds.
On May 20, 2014, Heaven was found unresponsive at 374 Brookwood Drive in Forsyth. Heaven had moved to this address with her mother in early May of this year from Rome, GA where Hendrickson has a history with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.
On Tuesday morning at 8:51 AM, Monroe County 911 received two calls about an unresponsive child at the Brookwood Drive residence. When the Forsyth Fire Department First Responders arrived on the scene they found Heaven not breathing and they immediately began CPR. Heaven was transported to the Monroe County Hospital Emergency Room where she was pronounced dead. The Forsyth Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the GBI immediately began an investigation into the death of five year old Heaven Woods.
Hendrickson and Buckner have both been denied bond and are being held at the Monroe County Justice Center.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Major David Brown with the Forsyth Police Department (478) 994-6022 or Lieutenant K.B. Ayer with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (478) 994 7287.
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