Drew couple charged in the death of child

Published 7:38 pm Friday, March 14, 2008

A Drew couple has been charged with manslaughter in the death of their 11-month-old son.

Antonio First, 23, was being held on $75,000 bond on one count of manslaughter and one count of child abuse. His girlfriend, 19-year-old Skiye Johnson, was charged with one count of manslaughter. Her bond was set at $50,000.

Both were being held in the Sunflower County jail after initial court appearances on Wednesday.

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Sunflower County Sheriff James Haywood said Talijah Johnson was taken to North Sunflower Medical Center in Ruleville on March 4 and then moved to a Jackson hospital, where he later died.

Haywood said an autopsy determined the child died of injuries consistent with shaken-thrown baby syndrome, including head trauma and hemorrhaging in the stomach.