CHILD KILLER ENTERS SURPRISE GUILTY PLEA

Mother of 2 Year Old “Nateyonna Banks” Sentenced to Life in Prison

Today, Shandrell Banks was sentenced to life in prison after entering a guilty plea in the death of her 2 year old daughter, Nateyonna. The case gained notoriety due to several perceived failures by the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services. They placed the child into the defendant’s custody despite factors that warranted a different action including Banks’ recent release from prison and her drug activity. In addition, she had documented anger management issues, she previously had three other children removed from her custody and she had allegedly made statements that she did not want Nateyonna.

The defendant pled guilty to 12 charges including malice murder, felony murder (3 counts), aggravated assault, aggravated battery and cruelty to children in the first degree (6 counts).

The victim was found unresponsive by paramedics and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in the evening hours of November 8, 2006. She passed away the next day. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office found that Nateyonna died from blunt force trauma to the head. They also documented several other injuries that were related to Banks’ abuse of the child. In addition to the devastating head injuries, the child had healing pattern marks on her back and thighs consistent with being struck by an object, a healing broken bone in her arm, a bite mark on her hand and injuries to her vaginal area.

Superior Court Judge Wendy Shoob presided over the case. It was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Chuck Boring. Lead Detective on the case was Detective Nicole Redlinger of the Atlanta Police Department. The case was investigated by James Higgins of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Investigations Unit.

Media Contact: Shelia Edwards, 404-730-4867/404-392-8867, shelia.edwards@fultoncountyga.gov