This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.



ATLANTA — A 33-year-old mother, who police say was shot in the head and killed by her boyfriend who then shot himself, died protecting her newborn from the violence.

Her boyfriend, a former Marine who served in Iraq allegedly “became belligerently drunk and abusive” after the two went out Saturday night.

Jessica Arrendale, 33, was found in the bathroom and had apparently been hit with a bat by boyfriend Antoine Davis, 30.

Police believe Arrendale ran into the bathroom with her 6-month-old daughter and locked the door, but Davis burst through the door, armed with an assault rifle.

Police say he shot Arrendale in the head and then shot himself.

In a WSB Radio exclusive interview with Arrendale’s mom, police believe somehow Arrendale was able to twist her body in such a way that the infant dropped into the water filled toilet bowl. Her body fell to protect the baby, and the two remained like this for 13 hours.

Police were reluctant to enter the home, cautious that their presence could spark violence and unaware that the two were dead.

Friends and family have set up a gofundme page to help offset the cost of the funeral and aid in the education of Arrendale’s children.

Read the full story here.