29-year-old mother of 1 died after the father of her 5-month-old son who had slapped her when she was just 3 months pregnant shot her to death in front of the boy; man convicted
Georgia – In a harrowing case in Georgia, a 33-year-old man, identified as S. Bolden has been convicted for the murder of his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend, identified as D. Ellison, a crime that he carried out in front of their own 5-month-old son. Bolden was found guilty by a jury of malice and felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime in the death of his son’s mother. Prosecutors say Bolden shot her nearly a dozen times while their baby boy, just five months old, lay nearby.
The charges came after investigators concluded that Bolden intentionally and repeatedly fired his 9mm revolver at Ellison, reloading and shooting her even after she was already down. The intensity and premeditation of the act, including the use of a deadly weapon and the presence of a child, elevated the case to felony murder and aggravated assault.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the crime was among the most heinous they had seen in recent years. The jury needed only 35 minutes to convict Bolden, signaling how clear the evidence was against him. The state has asked the court to impose life in prison without the possibility of parole at the sentencing scheduled for January 9, a sentence prosecutors say is warranted given the brutality and cruelty of the crime.
Ellison and Bolden had once been in a relationship. She left Bolden after a violent altercation on Mother’s Day 2020, during which he reportedly slapped her while she was around three months pregnant. Despite the abuse, the pair agreed to co-parent their child after his birth. But on May 6, 2021, violence escalated to a tragic extreme. Neighbors called the police department after they heard gunshots and someone running away from Ellison’s home.
When officers arrived, they had to force entry. Inside, they found a horrifying scene: Ellison’s body was “covered in blood,” and nearby lay the infant boy on a bed, nearly stuck in the headboard, “crying and inconsolable.” Prosecutors described the image as “truly heartbreaking.” Meanwhile, someone placed an anonymous call to 911 to report that Bolden had admitted to the shooting. Police soon located his car roughly 100 miles away. A high‑speed, multi-county chase ensued before troopers with the Georgia State Patrol disabled his vehicle and took him into custody.
Throughout the investigation, detectives noted Bolden “lied and tried to manipulate” officers and showed “no concern for the well‑being of his son or Ellison.” In a statement following the verdict, District Attorney S. Jones said the case underscores the office’s renewed commitment to victims’ rights. She pledged to expand the Special Victims Unit and ensure that no case like this is ever ignored.
Ellison’s family has described her as someone who “had a zest for life, a huge personality, a heart of gold and a mind of her very own.” Her obituary painted a picture of a woman whose “laugh was so big and bright … whose smile was warm, comforting, and sincere.” As the family prepares for sentencing, many are calling for laws and protections to prevent similar tragedies. For them, justice means not only a harsh penalty for Bolden but also stronger safeguards for survivors of domestic abuse and for children caught in its crossfire. While nothing can undo what happened, the conviction offers a small measure of closure and sends a message that violence, especially against the most vulnerable, will not go unpunished.
