Boy found in trunk: Man appears in court; Mother speaks out

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The man who police charged after finding a 9-year-old boy inside the trunk of his car appeared in court Wednesday as that boy’s mother is speaking out about the incident.

Charlie Woods is facing charges of cruelty to children, false imprisonment and reckless conduct as well as reckless driving.

It happened Tuesday outside of a Georgia Department of Drivers Services office off Georgia 85 and Forest Parkway. Police said someone walking past a white Kia Amanti noticed the trunk was cracked open and heard the boy shortly after 9:30 a.m. That person called 911. Police were able to safely retrieve the boy. When Woods came out of the DDS office to the car, officers arrested him.

Investigators are looking into allegations that Woods broke into the East Point apartment of the boy, who was identified by his mother as Ahmod, took him and put him the trunk before running errands. The child’s mother, Shirley Murphy, said she filed a temporary restraining order against Woods on Monday.

Medics transported the boy to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston to be check out. He was later released to the care of his mother.

A police spokesman said the boy and man are not related.

Ahmod’s mother spoke to FOX 5’s Aungelique Proctor about the incident on Wednesday. She believes Woods was motivated by revenge against her for ending a relationship with him. Ahmod said he didn’t know why he was put into the trunk.

East Point Police will determine whether or not to file kidnapping charges. Other charges are also pending.