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Clayton Co. woman says new boyfriend caused child's death

By Tom Jones, WSB-TV

Police say Nacole Cockrell's 4-month-old son James died after James Bartlett shook him to death in 2011.

By Tom Jones, WSB-TV
A mother who once faced charges for murdering her child says she made a huge mistake bringing a man she just met around the baby.
James Bartlett recently pled guilty to murdering Nacole Cockrell's 4-month-old baby boy.
Cockrell says the death of her child has given her a mission: to let women know they have to do a better job of choosing who they allow around their children. 
"Don't be trusting these men with your children," she said.
Cockrell says she trusted Bartlett, her boyfriend of six months, with her 4-month-old baby, and now she says her life has changed forever.
"He took James Jr. from me," she said.

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga — Her son James died after police say Bartlett shook him to death in 2011.

Bartlett and Cockrell were arrested and charged with murder.
Police say when Bartlett called Cockrell at work to tell her the baby wasn't breathing, Cockrell told Bartlett not to call 911. 
Cockrell says officers took that statement out of context.
"He told them people I said not to call 911.  He didn't tell them why I said that," she explained.
She says she didn't tell him that until after she arrived home after Bartlett texted her and said the baby wasn't breathing.
"He asked me, 'Do we need to call 911?'  I said ‘No. Get in the car, me and my dad are here. Are you serious?’" Cockrell says she knew she could get her son to a fire station five minutes away faster than waiting for an ambulance.
Prosecutors eventually dropped murder charges against her. The Clayton County district attorney said she was at work and less culpable than Bartlett.
Cockrell did plead guilty to felony child deprivation. Prosecutors say she knew Bartlett was abusing the child and did nothing. Cockrell says she had no idea her baby was being harmed and would have left Bartlett if she knew. She pled guilty and received an eight-year sentence to serve to behind bars.
Cockrell told Channel 2’s Tom Jones she accepted the plea deal because she had been in jail for two years.
"Honestly I wanted to go home," she said.
But she is adamant that she did not know her child was being abused.
"I want people to know I am not a child murderer and I would never hurt a child, ever," she said.
She wants women to really think twice about who they allow around their children. And she wants them to stay away from men like Bartlett.
"If a man is violent and can be angered very quickly, don't mess with him. I want women out here to know so they don't have to go through what I went through. What my child went through. If they don't love you, truly love you, and want to marry you and be there for you, baby, leave them alone," she said.
Clayton Co. woman says new boyfriend caused her child’s death
A mother who once faced charges for murdering her child says she made a huge mistake bringing a man she just met around the baby.
James Bartlett recently pled guilty to murdering Nacole Cockrell's 4-month-old baby boy.
Cockrell says the death of her child has given her a mission: to let women know they have to do a better job of choosing who they allow around their children. 
"Don't be trusting these men with your children," she said.
Cockrell says she trusted Bartlett, her boyfriend of six months, with her 4-month-old baby, and now she says her life has changed forever.
"He took James Jr. from me," she said.
Police say her son James died after Bartlett shook him to death in 2011.
Bartlett and Cockrell were arrested and charged  with murder.
Police say when Bartlett called Cockrell at work to tell her the baby wasn't breathing, Cockrell told Bartlett not to call 911. 
Cockrell says officers took that statement out of context.
"He told them people I said not to call 911.  He didn't tell them why I said that," she explained.
She says she didn't tell him that until after she arrived home after Bartlett texted her and said the baby wasn't breathing.
"He asked me, 'Do we need to call 911?'  I said ‘No. Get in the car, me and my dad are here. Are you serious?’" Cockrell says she knew she could get her son to a fire station five minutes away faster than waiting for an ambulance.
Prosecutors eventually dropped murder charges against her. The Clayton County district attorney said she was at work and less culpable than Bartlett.
Cockrell did plead guilty to felony child deprivation. Prosecutors say she knew Bartlett was abusing the child and did nothing. Cockrell says she had no idea her baby was being harmed and would have left Bartlett if she knew. She pled guilty and received an eight-year sentence to serve to behind bars.
Cockrell told Channel 2’s Tom Jones she accepted the plea deal because she had been in jail for two years.
"Honestly I wanted to go home," she said.
But she is adamant that she did not know her child was being abused.
"I want people to know I am not a child murderer and I would never hurt a child, ever," she said.
She wants women to really think twice about who they allow around their children. And she wants them to stay away from men like Bartlett.
"If a man is violent and can be angered very quickly, don't mess with him. I want women out here to know so they don't have to go through what I went through. What my child went through. If they don't love you, truly love you, and want to marry you and be there for you, baby, leave them alone," she said.

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