Tyrone man kills mother, kidnaps child, and then kills himself, police say
Tyrone police uncover murder-suicide, arson, kidnapping
Shock is rippling through a Fayette County community as word spreads of a murder-suicide involving the kidnapping of a toddler and ending in an apparent arson. Tyrone police say the 32-year-old suspect killed his mom, and then held his toddler and the child’s mother hostage overnight. The next day, that woman was able to call for help, leading police to another grim discovery.
TYRONE, Ga. - Police in Tyrone are investigating a murder-suicide involving the kidnapping of a toddler that ended in an apparent arson.
Police said 32-year-old Khalid Auta killed his mother, 59-year-old Sonya Reid, on Monday night, and then held his toddler and that toddler’s mother hostage until Tuesday night.
Tyrone police said officers responded to a welfare check in the 500 block of McDade Street on Tuesday.
When they got there, the woman ran up to them.
"She advised police that she was held hostage during that time, and he eventually left the home with the deceased in his backseat," said Detective Andrea Johnson. "At that time, she was able to get away with her infant."
Police said he killed his mother the previous day, held his child and his or her mother hostage overnight, and had just released them before leaving the area in a vehicle with the deceased.
Auta's vehicle was found in Fayetteville, engulfed in flames. Both he and his mother were discovered in the car.
The man appeared to have taken his own life with a gunshot wound, police say.
Neighbors were in disbelief.
"She was a nice lady. Always, always seen her out with her dog, she had a small dog," said one man who didn’t wish to be identified. "Very sweet. She was buddies with my eight-year-old kid. We haven’t been able to tell him yet."
Detectives from the Tyrone Police Department processed the deceased's home for any items of evidentiary value. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released any further information at this time.
The victim’s daughter, also the suspect’s sister, was not ready to provide comment Wednesday afternoon and requested privacy from the community as she processed the losses.