Man allegedly drowns his adopted 10-year-old son while trying to discipline him

A Georgia man, Leon H. Williams, 43, who recently adopted a 10-year-old boy, Kentea Williams, has been arrested and charged with drowning the child in the family bathtub, police said. Williams told investigators he had whipped the child with a belt, poured hot water over his feet, and then held him underwater for about 30 to 45 seconds, according to a DeKalb County Police warrant.

Williams had recently adopted the child, who had previously lived with him under foster care, police said.

Kentea Williams was being punished for misbehaving in school, investigators said Williams told them.

Geri Williams, the boy's grandmother, called 911 Friday night, to report that Kentea wasn't breathing, police said. She told officers she saw burn marks on his feet.

A witness told investigators she saw Williams grab the boy's neck earlier in the day as the two walked in their apartment complex's parking lot.
"He's gonna die tonight, I'm gonna kill him," neighbor Alicia Lemons said he overheard Williams say.

Williams was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on first-degree charges of murder and child cruelty, authorities said. Defense attorney Leeanne Lynch said: