Tamalynn Johnson, of Dublin, is being held in the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center on charges related to the death, including felony murder. 

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A 37-year-old Laurens County woman has been charged by Milledgeville police with murder in connection with the Aug. 22 death of her infant son.

Local authorities said the woman delivered a son at Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville July 31 and at the time was under the influence of methamphetamine and was reportedly in possession of drugs at the hospital. 

Authorities said the baby, referred to as “Baby Johnson,” is believed to have died from cardiac arrest. 

Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Leonard D. Myers confirmed with the newspaper Monday that Tomalynn Johnson, of Dublin, is being held in the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center on charges related to the death, including felony murder. 

A murder warrant was served against Johnson last Wednesday by Milledgeville Police Department Detective Kim Khan, Myers said. 

Johnson was already in jail at the time the warrant was served. She had been arrested shortly after she delivered her baby and charged with one count of Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act for possession of methamphetamine and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree, Myers said.

She later appeared before Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge William A. Prior, who set bond at $50,000 related to the first two charges, the assistant district attorney said.

“The offense date was July 31,” Myers said.

Johnson reportedly went into the hospital with meth in her system and had drugs in her possession, according to authorities.

Milledgeville Police Officer Crystal Reese initially responded to the local hospital concerning the incident, Myers said.

“They found drugs on her while she was in labor and delivery and those drugs were taken and given to the security officer and then taken to the nurses station on the third floor,” Myers said. “So, they took the meth away from her (Johnson).”

Detective Khan later was assigned the case. The detective was involved in a court case Tuesday afternoon and was unavailable for comment on the case by presstime.  

The infant died last week and the case remains under investigation.

The assistant district attorney said shortly after the infant was born he was rushed to Navicent Health Medical Center in Macon and later transferred to an Augusta hospital where “Baby Johnson” died last Tuesday — 22 days after he was born.

Police talked with Johnson at the local hospital she reportedly admitted to an officer that she had a small amount of meth in the bottom of her bag along with other pills that she was not immediately aware of. The pills turned out to be over the counter medication.

A caseworker with the Baldwin County Department of Family and Children Services was called to the hospital to launch an investigation after DFCS officials were notified by police.