Father charged with concealing death after infant daughter's body found in car, police say

MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of a baby found on the rear floor of a car after her father ran from police.

The police officer who pulled over the suspect told Channel 2's Tom Regan the he made a desperate attempt to save 10-month-old Ayla Reeves' life.

Authorities said her father, Cameron Reese, ran from the car after police tried to pull him over for speeding.

“I couldn't believe someone would just run off and leave a child like that,” Officer Y. Hines, with the Greenville Police Department, said.

Hines walked Regan through what he said were his frantic efforts to revive the baby girl.

“I took the child out, attempted to perform CPR, called for EMS services, they began life saving efforts. Unfortunately, it was confirmed the child had passed away at the hospital,” Hines said.

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The GBI said the suspect had earlier met with the child's mother, Nikki Reeves, in the parking lot of her apartment complex.

They said Reese pulled a steak knife on her after she began to question him about a mark under the child's eye. Reeves jumped from the moving car.

People who live in the complex told Regan that the baby's death is heartbreaking.

“I think it's terrible. We need to get a hold of what's going on. People need to control their anger. It's just a sad situation,” neighbor Stephen Davidson said.

“It's a lot to think about, since I have my own kid. It's kind of sad,” neighbor LaShadell Edward said. “Nobody wants to lose a child."

Police said they tracked down the father at his apartment. They said they found him hiding in a storage cabinet off a back patio.

“He gave up with no further incident," Hines said.

For now, the father is charged with concealing a death and assault on the mother. But the charges could be more serious after the GBI completes an autopsy.

Cox Media Group