Baby in freezer at AL hotel 5-6 days

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DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) -- Dothan Police have released more details in the investigation of a baby's death in Dothan. According to DPD they were notified on Friday by the Hall County Georgia Sheriff's Department that Carlton James Mathis, 28, of Gainesville, GA and Amanda Gail Oakes, 36, of Murrayville, GA were in Dothan with their 6 month old son, Curtis James Oakes. Hall County Sheriff's officers had been told that Curtis James Oakes had died.

Dothan investigators couldn't find where the family was staying, but did learn they had left the area and were headed to Florida. DPD passed the info along to Florida law enforcement.

Then on Monday Mathis and Oakes were spotted in Bronson Florida. The Levy County Florida Sheriff's Department and the Alachua County Florida Sheriff's Department tried to stop Mathis. Mathis pulled a gun and was shot 4 times by an Alachua County SWAT Team member. Mathis is currently in stable condition at a Florida hospital in the custody of the Levy County Sheriffs Department.

With Mathis and Oakes in custody, investigators found out where the family had been staying in Dothan. DPD investigators went to In Town Suites with a search warrant and discovered the body of Curtis James Oakes in a freezer.

Investigators say it looks like the infant was in the freezer for 5 or 6 days. The body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery AL for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Investigators say they think the baby was dead before being placed in the freezer and foul play is suspected in his death.

Carlton James Mathis and Amanda Gail Oakes were both charged with one count of Abuse of a Corpse and each have a bond amount of $15,000.00. They are currently awaiting extradition from Levy County FL to Dothan AL. Murder charges on both Oakes and Mathis are expected to be filed in Houston County Circuit Court after an autopsy is completed.

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