Father of 6-Month-Old Found in Dumpster Says Baby Was Taken in Armed Robbery — Police Say He Lied, Now He’s Under Investigation By Sean Neumann

A Georgia father who initially told police his baby was kidnapped during an armed robbery on Sunday is now under investigation for his son’s death after the child was reportedly discovered dead in a dumpster on Tuesday.

Antonio Pearce is under investigation for his 6-month-old son Nnakai Pratt’s disappearance and death this week, the Clayton County Police Department said in a statement.

PEOPLE confirmed Tuesday that Pearce was arrested early Monday morning on unrelated charges and is being held without bond at the Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro, Ga., this week.

Records reviewed by PEOPLE show Pearce has been charged with making false statements to police, illegal child restraint, possession of marijuana and two charges for driving on a suspended or revoked license. He has not been charged in connection with Nnakai’s death as of midday Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Clayton County police said in their statement Monday that Pearce called investigators the day before and alleged that “he was robbed at gunpoint for his valuables, and as the assailants left the location, they took his 6-month-old baby, Nnakai Pratt, from the car seat carrier he was in and fled in an unknown direction.”

However, detectives soon judged Pearce’s story “highly questionable” and “deemed Nnakai Pratt’s father to be a suspect in his sudden disappearance.”

Pearce’s girlfriend was also taken in for questioning as investigators continued to look for baby Nnakai, according to WSB-TV and Atlanta News First.

On Tuesday, baby Nnakai was found dead inside a dumpster near the apartment complex in Riverdale, Ga., where he was initially reported missing, WRDW, WANF, and Fox 5 reported.

Neighbors told local reporters they were shocked at the baby’s disappearance and death.

“This is sad,” neighbor Meshia Sikes told Atlanta News First, casting doubt on Pearce’s story that armed robbers took his baby. 

”The story doesn’t make sense. The math isn’t mathing,“ Sikes added. “Somebody is up in these apartments 24 hours a day. We would’ve definitely known if there had been a robbery here.”

Another apartment complex resident told WANF she was “heartbroken” to hear of baby Nnakai’s death.

“These little ones, the families who live here, they do love their kids,“ Tracy Karch told the outlet. ”This is a very family-oriented place. This is going to hurt the community really, really bad.”

PEOPLE has reached out to officials with the Clayton County Police Department for more information about the investigation.