Ga. man sentenced for causing fatal head injuries to 1-year-old boy while his mother was at work

WALESKA, Ga. (TCN) -- A man received a life sentence for causing fatal injuries to a 1-year-old boy consistent with shaken baby syndrome while the child's mother was at work.

According to the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office, a judge sentenced 28-year-old Gregory Davis on June 26 to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 60 years in connection with the death of 1-year-old James "Jamie" Marco Palacio.

A jury previously convicted Davis in May on charges of malice murder, felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, and willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.

On April 28, 2021, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of an unresponsive baby inside a home. Officials rushed the child, Palacio, to a hospital, where he was pronounced brain dead two days later. Prosecutors said the victim sustained acute injuries to his brain and neck consistent with abusive head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome.

At the time, Davis was reportedly caring for Palacio while his mother was at work.

According to the district attorney's office, investigators discovered the baby suffered a previous skull fracture while Davis was watching him. An autopsy showed healing vertebrae fractures and a healing rib fracture, suggesting a "pattern of chronic and systematic abuse." Investigators determined Palacio died of acute and healing traumatic injuries to his head, neck, and torso, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The child's mother, 27-year-old Amber Ellis, was charged with two counts of second-degree cruelty to children in the case. She entered a non-negotiated guilty plea on May 5. A judge sentenced Ellis to 20 years, with the first 10 years in prison and the other 10 on probation.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Katie Gropper said, "The chronic and unrelenting abuse inflicted on this innocent, defenseless baby shocks the conscience and warrants the harshest penalty Georgia law allows. Jamie experienced unimaginable suffering in his short life. He was robbed of the opportunity to grow, learn, and lead a full and happy life because of the evil actions of the defendant. Those actions come with consequences."

One of the victim's family members reportedly made an impact statement and said, "Jamie deserved to be loved. He deserved to be taken care of. He deserved to be in the care of someone who could do these things for him. Gregory Davis was entrusted to take care of Jamie and, instead, killed him. My family and I have no sympathy for this man, and neither should the court."

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