SAMUEL CARROLL - 3 yo (2011)/ Convicted: Mother's friend; Robert Gonzales - Hinesville GA

March 10th 2011
Hinesville Police arrested a soldier last week in connection with the death of toddler.
Det.
Doug Snider said Robert Gonzalez, 28, was arrested on March 3 at his
home on Honey Creek Lane without incident. Gonzales has been charged
with murder in the death of Samuel Carroll, 3.
The child, according
to Snider, was in the care of Gonzales while the child's mother was at
work on Feb. 27. The detective said Gonzales brought the child to
Liberty Regional Medical Center that evening. The child was later taken
to a Savannah hospital suffering from an apparent head injury. The child
was placed on a life support system until he was pronounced dead on
March 3. Snider said an autopsy was conducted at a GBI crime lab where
it was ruled the youngster died from blunt force trauma to his head.
It is expected Gonzales will make his first court appearance either Thursday morning or Friday.
http://beta.coastalcourier.com/archives/29713/

March 26th 2011
HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) - A mother is locked up, facing cruelty charges in her own son's death.
Jocelyn Carroll's 3-year-old son died from
blunt force trauma to the head. Police arrested her friend. Now they've
arrested her, too, saying she had knowledge of her son being abused
prior to his death.
On Friday she appeared before a judge for the
first time. He granted her bond, but as of 6 p.m. Friday, night Carroll
had not bonded out. She remains in jail. Her demeanor Friday morning
was much different than when WTOC interviewed her just a few weeks ago.
She walked into the judge's office dressed in
an orange jump suit and shackled. Hinesville police arrested Carroll
last Thursday.
"She had knowledge that the child was being
physically abused and she continued to leave the child in the care of
the abuser," said Det. Doug Snider of Hinesville police.
Snider said that abuser is Carroll's friend,
Robert Gonzalez. He was arrested a few weeks back, and charged with her
son's murder. But even then, Carroll was standing by her friend. She
told WTOC's Dal Cannady Gonzalez was innocent.
"I truly don't believe that man would hurt my
son. If it's an accident, it's an accident. I don't believe he
intentionally hurt my son," said Carroll on March 10.
But police don't see it that way. They say she knew what was going on and did nothing about it.
WTOC also spoke with the child's father. He
said he can't say much until after the trial, but police said that he
has been helpful and wants justice for his son.http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14320837

Man Found Guilty of Murdering 3 Year-old Hinesville Boy

Posted: Sep 20, 2012 5:32 PM CST
By Tuquyen Mach

A man has been found guilty of killing a three year-old Hinesville boy in 2011.

A jury found Robert Gonzales guilty of felony murder and other charges in the death of 3 year-old Samuel Carroll.

Carroll was brought to the Memorial ER with a head injury on February 27, 2011, and later died.

Investigators said Gonzales was taking care of the boy when the injury happened.

Gonzales was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the felony murder charge, plus 20 years for other counts.

The boy's mother, Jocelyn Carroll, was arrested and charged with child cruelty after his death. Police said she left the child with Gonzales even though she knew he was being abusive.

http://www.wsav.com/story/21208372/man-found-guilty-of-murdering-3-year-old-hinesville-boy

Man sentenced to life for toddler's murder

Posted: Sep 20, 2012 6:05 PM CST
Updated: Oct 06, 2012 8:54 AM CST
By Alex Bender - email

Robert Gonzales

 
Samuel Carroll


HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) -A man charged in the death of a Hinesville toddler will be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Samuel Carroll, 3, was rushed to a hospital with head injuries back in February 2011 but died a few days later.

On Wednesday, a Liberty County jury found Robert Gonzales, 30, a friend of the toddler's mother, guilty of felony murder, three counts of first degree cruelty to children and aggravated assault.

Gonzales was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years with the possibility of parole.

http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=19600001