Mother of dead Albany toddler returning from Florida

ALBANY — The mother a 2-year-old girl who was found dead at Rivercrest Apartments on Wednesday has decided not to challenge extradition from Florida, Dougherty District Attorney Greg Edwards said.

The Dougherty District Attorney Child Death Team was called to Unit 59 of the apartment complex at 525 Don Cutler Sr. Drive Wednesday afternoon after it had been discovered there was a deceased toddler hidden at the residence who had likely been dead at least two days.

The girl was identified by Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler as Nyelle Garrison.

Clarion Garrison, 28, was taken into custody around 9 p.m. Wednesday after deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Fla., responded to a tip provided by the Albany Police Department after an Amber Alert was issued for three missing children. The mother of the three children, who was arrested outside Ocala, was also Nyelle’s mother, police said.

The alert, which was sent on behalf of the APD, went out at approximately 9:09 p.m. Wednesday stating that three children and their mother were believed to be travelling out of Albany in a 2003 gold KIA Optima. When deputies arrived at an Ocala home believed to belong to a relative of Garrison’s, they found 7 year-old Amyelle Garrison, 6 year-old Jaleel Garrison and 4 year-old Kamella Gibson, who had last been seen at Rivercrest Apartments.

All three children were reportedly safe and were taken into protective custody by the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS). Although reportedly not present when deputies first arrived at the scene, Clarion Garrison eventually returned to the Ocala residence and turned herself in.

The 2-year-old’s body was found following an investigation stemming from a search warrant issued after a DFACS worker attempted to perform a home visit at the apartment.

Edwards said the autopsy on the toddler was largely complete by Friday afternoon, but that some test results — including toxicology — were still outstanding. Preliminary results from the autopsy, which was performed at a Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab, were inconclusive, he said.

Officials with the APD said initially at least one person was expected to be charged with concealment of a death in connection to the incident. Edwards said Friday that officials would be deciding as the investigation unfolds what charges would apply to whom, adding that other persons of interest were being sought in connection to the case.

Staff writer Brad McEwen contributed to this report