A cash bond of $350,000 or a property bond of $700,000 was set last week for Jamell Charles Johnson, 28, by Atlantic Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Robert L. Russell III in Ludowici.
Johnson has been charged with malice murder, felony murder and two counts of cruelty to a child in the first degree for his alleged involvement in the 2008 death of his 4-month-old son, Jermiah Johnson. Russell said that a court date for Johnson would be set within the next two or three months.
On Aug. 4, 2008, emergency units responded to a call of an unresponsive child at a residence in Land of Lakes Mobile Home Park in Long County. Efforts were made by first responders to revive Jermiah, but he later was declare dead at Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville.
After a lengthy investigation by the Long County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Johnson was indicted by a Long County grand jury on May 16, 2013. However, at the time of Johnson’s indictment, he no longer resided in the Long County area.
On May 22, the U.S. Marshal’s Office was notified by the sheriff’s office and a nationwide search for Johnson ensued. On May 23, authorities found him living in Butts County, where he was arrested by the GBI and later transported to Ludowici to face formal charges.