Man Ordered To Pay Child Support Kills Son

A man who initially told police gunmen kidnapped his 2 1/2-year-old son was arrested Saturday, accused of committing an "extremely hideous" murder because he was ordered to pay child support, Police Superintendent Warren Riley said.
Danny Platt confessed, told police where to find the child's body and will be booked on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Ja' Shawn Powell, Riley said at a news conference.

"He had said he would kill either his wife or his child before he paid child support," which he recently had been ordered to do, Riley said.

Riley said he did not know the amount of child support and would not describe how the boy was killed, saying the coroner would do that after the autopsy was complete. The coroner's spokesman did not immediately return a call.

"The mother is in a safe place," Riley said.

Although he had visiting rights, Platt, 22, of New Orleans, had never visited the boy until he picked him up Friday, Riley said.

Police put out a notice Saturday asking people to look for the boy and saying his father had told them three men with dreadlocks and AK-47 rifles had piled out of an SUV and kidnapped Ja' Shawn shortly before midnight Friday.

"His story never really added up," Riley said. "He was a suspect from the very beginning."

Riley said Platt eventually confessed and told officers where to find the body.

Police spokesman officer Janssen Valencia said he did not know if Platt has an attorney.

Platt had only a couple of "very minor" previous arrests, Riley said.

"How does an individual — because he's ordered to pay child support to take care of a kid ... believe that this is so much pressure that he would face — he would do this hideous act to his own child, or to any child, and think that is a remedy to paying child support?" Riley said. "I mean there are some sick individuals in this society, and this gentleman is clearly one."

Comment by Deloreon on January 4, 2009 at 9:18pm: Damn Nigga own up to yo responsibilites...

Comment by psycho on January 4, 2009 at 9:52pm: I knew he was lying when I heard the story that morning, by the end of the day he had confessed!
...btw I posted this story first, pic of the little boy on my blog, he was a such cutie GOD bless him.

Comment by ORANGE MOUND VET.AKA MR.22 SHOTS. on January 4, 2009 at 10:07pm: THIS NIGGA IS SICK WHAT KIND OF BITCH SHIT IS THIS..

Comment by CHOPPA CITY DJS on January 5, 2009 at 1:55am: HE NEED TO BE FUCKED N DA ASS WITH A BROOM STICK

Comment by CrystalShine on January 5, 2009 at 8:14am: He need 2 be shank while he in there, cause this nicca don't deserve 2 live.

Comment by Raw Dawg on January 5, 2009 at 9:42am: Dude needs to be killed. I read in the paper today that he owed $4000. He killed his own child for a few fucking stacks - terrible.

Comment by mz @ll3rgic 2 brok3 on January 5, 2009 at 10:21am: thats sad !thats also one of the cheapest mutha fuckas in the world and he needs 2 go straight 2 hell wit gas on his dick and balls

Comment by sdot on January 5, 2009 at 11:03am: sooooo...let me get this right!! this nigga had NEVER visited his son in the entire 2 1/2 years of his life, but his dumb ass momma let him go with his dad that has been negligent up until the night he picked him up and killed him?!?!?! WTF was on her mind? they need to lock her ass up too!!! and I know he got to feel dumb, cause he look dumb ass hell!!! GOD BLESS HIS SOUL!!!!!