Judge denies bond for Columbia County man in wife’s killing

Judge denies bond for Columbia County man in wife’s killing

HARLEM, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A Columbia County judge has denied bond for a man accused of attacking his wife, an assault that prosecutors say led to her death days later.

Columbia County Superior Court Judge Sheryl Jolly ruled Wednesday that 31-year-old Willie Bernard Thomas will remain in the Columbia County Detention Center while he awaits trial on murder and related charges in the death of his wife.

Letavia Latimore, 31, was found unresponsive at the couple’s Harlem home on July 30 and later died at the hospital on Aug. 7. She had suffered massive bleeding on the brain, according to testimony in court. She was placed on life support and declared brain dead about a week later, and died after she was taken off life support.

Thomas was originally charged with aggravated assault after deputies were called to the home and he told authorities Latimore had fallen in the bathtub. Investigators later concluded her injuries were not consistent with an accidental fall.

Prosecutors: Child’s messages captured the attack

During Wednesday’s bond hearing, District Attorney Natalie Paine argued against releasing Thomas, saying all four of the couple’s children were inside the home during the attack and that Thomas could try to influence their testimony or pose a threat to them if he were released.

Paine described evidence from one of the older children that she said directly contradicts Thomas’ account.

The child was playing a video game at the time of the incident and did not have access to a phone, Paine said. Instead, the child used another internet-connected device to send desperate messages in a group chat asking for help.

According to Paine, those messages included statements like, “Stop it,” “You’re hurting me” and “I can’t breathe.”

Paine said the child later went into the room and allegedly saw Thomas with his hands around Latimore’s neck and watched him hit Latimore’s head against the floor. Thomas stopped when he realized the child was watching and told the child to leave, Paine said.

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Questions over timeline, crime scene

Paine also questioned the timeline Thomas gave investigators.

Thomas allegedly told authorities Latimore fell in the bathtub about 30 to 45 minutes before EMS arrived. But investigators compared that with the child’s video-game activity and concluded the incident likely happened two to three hours earlier, Paine said.

She also pointed to details that raised concerns about the scene inside the home. Latimore’s hair was dry when first responders arrived, and investigators believed the bathroom had recently been cleaned, Paine told the court.

Prior child abuse case, defense asks for strict bond

Paine noted that Thomas’ criminal history includes a 36-month probation sentence in Colorado for child abuse.

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Defense attorney Katherine Kazimer asked Judge Jolly to set a “reasonable bond,” suggesting Thomas could be placed on house arrest and barred from contacting the children as a condition of release.

Kazimer argued both Thomas and Latimore were Grovetown High School graduates, and Kazimer said Thomas would live with his parents in the community if he were released.

She also told the court that Thomas serves in the military and had been stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. Before Latimore’s death, Kazimer said, Thomas had been working with a moving company and the family had been preparing to move.

Judge cites flight risk, witness concerns

In denying bond, Judge Jolly said she found a risk of flight and a risk of witness intimidation, particularly involving the children who may be key witnesses in the case.

Thomas remains in custody at the Columbia County Detention Center.

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