Firefighter accused of 1-year-old's murder in court, new details paint picture of day when child died

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Details revealed at a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning are giving further insight in the death of a 1-year-old Columbia County child.

The judge mentioned bond, but none was set for the man accused of the death of the child, Lincoln Davitte.

Investigators were at the court appearance Tuesday and talked about the day Davitte died.

Officials say Sconyers picked up Davitte from Child's World Daycare on Columbia Road around 6:15 p.m. By 6:30 p.m., authorities said, Sconyers, who was the only person present with Davitte, had called 911 to report that the child had fallen off the back porch.

Sconyers also told investigators he gave emergency aid to Davitte until EMT's arrived.

By 7 p.m., Davitte was hospitalized.

Davitte, investigators said, had two skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, and pressure on the brain. He also had a bruise on his left ear, a bruised left hip, and scrapes on his forehead -- all injuries that investigators said made them suspicious of what Sconyers said happened.

Investigators met with doctors on May 3 and those doctors backed up those suspicions and said the injuries had to have been caused by blunt force trauma -- not an accident.

"When I asked what would cause this type of injury, I was told a high impact sort of trauma, like being ejected from a car wreck," Investigator Daniel Gaston said. "The injuries were on the back of the head. I was told it was either from a direct blow or a drop from a very high source."

Officials say Sconyers' story about the incident was inconsistent with Davitte's injuries. However, there was no physical evidence at the scene.

Sconyers' defense argued that he was being charged with Davitte's death merely because of his presence at the scene.

However, the judge said there was more evidence against Sconyers than what was revealed at the hearing.

Sconyers' family, who was at the hearing, continued to profess his innocence, saying that he loved Davitte and would never do what he's being accused of doing.

Davitte's family, including his father, Tyler Davitte, were also at the hearing.

"I just don't understand," Tyler said. "If God could give me an answer or this young man could give me an answer. Anybody could give me an answer why the hell any of this would happen."

An autopsy on Davitte is forthcoming.