We're now learning more about a father accused of killing his own child inside a Lithonia house and burying him in the backyard.
11Alive was in the DeKalb County courtroom when Montrais Boyd Sr. made his first appearance, Thursday. He didn't say a word, however, we do know this is not the first time he put his own son's life in danger. Sadly, this time, the young boy didn't survive.
The accused murderer did not even flinch as a DeKalb County judge read the gruesome charges against him during his first court appearance, Thursday.
"You're accused of, with malice and forethought, causing the death of Montrais Boyd Jr. by using a kitchen knife," the judge said.
The hearing lasted less than two minutes and Boyd Sr. was visibly unemotional.
"It's been very difficult for the family and everyone involved," DeKalb police spokesperson Shiera Campbell said.
Campbell said Boyd was home alone with the 5-year-old and four other children when the incident happened. The other kids are physically OK, but the mom and grandmother came home later to the gruesome scene.
"The mother discovered that the child was in the backyard and went back there and dug the child up with her bare hands," Campbell said.
A neighbor, how doesn't want to be identified, said he saw the boy earlier playing with the toys now scattered across the backyard.
"The little boy was real respectable - happy," the neighbor said.
About 8 months before, police in Arizona said Boyd Sr. had the boy inside his SUV when he rammed into a state trooper's patrol SUV multiple times - while naked. He then drove the wrong way on a busy highway.
"We have reports that there were some psychological issues with the father," Campbell said.
Boyd was booked into an Arizona jail on several felony charges and child abuse. It's unclear why he was out and still allowed to be near the boy he's now accused of killing 8 months later.
Police tell us the boy recently moved in with his grandmother in DeKalb County but the parents came into town to visit this week.
