A man from Georgia has been sentenced to decades behind bars after a jury found him guilty of shooting his pregnant girlfriend in the head in an attempt to kill their unborn baby. The shocking case gained widespread attention after the victim survived, woke up from a coma with no memory of the attack, and doctors performed an emergency C-section to save her child.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison
Donald Wooten, 27, was sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of:
- Attempted murder
- Criminal attempt to commit feticide
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
The sentencing came after prosecutors proved Wooten deliberately tried to kill both his girlfriend and their unborn child.
Investigators Reveal Chilling Motive
According to investigators, Wooten admitted during police questioning that he did not want his girlfriend to continue with the pregnancy.
Authorities said his motive was clear—he wanted to kill the unborn child by shooting the victim in the head.
Because of the life-threatening injuries, doctors had to perform an emergency C-section to save the baby.
Victim Found Near Park Walking Trail
The attack happened in March 2023 near a walking trail at Chapel Hill Park in Decatur.
Police officers responded around 7 a.m. after receiving a 911 call about an unresponsive woman near the trail.
Emergency responders found the pregnant victim lying on the ground in a fetal position. She was conscious but unable to communicate and had a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
Victim Was 22 Weeks Pregnant
Doctors later confirmed the woman had suffered a serious head injury and was 22 weeks pregnant at the time of the shooting.
Due to her medical condition, detectives were initially unable to interview her. Family members quickly told investigators they believed Wooten was responsible.
Suspect Gave False Alibi
When questioned, Wooten initially told detectives he had spent the evening with another person, but that individual later denied knowing him.
He then changed his story, claiming he and the victim had gone to a movie before returning to their apartment complex, after which he supposedly went to another apartment in Atlanta.
Investigators later discovered that cellphone location records did not match his version of events.
Phone Records and Messages Strengthened the Case
Police found:
- Movie receipts in the victim’s car
- Text messages confirming the couple had gone out together
- Cellphone location data that contradicted Wooten’s alibi
- Jail calls where Wooten allegedly asked a relative to remotely erase his phone
Investigators were still able to recover data before the device was wiped.
Messages recovered from the phone showed the couple had been arguing about the pregnancy and their future.
Prosecutors also revealed messages where Wooten allegedly:
- Asked someone to remove a gun and bullets from his apartment
- Reminded another person to support his false alibi if police asked questions
Victim Testified During Trial
Two months after the shooting, detectives were finally able to speak with the victim.
She told investigators that she remembered:
- Driving with Wooten to the movies
- Returning to their apartment complex
- Wooten suggesting a late-night walk at the park
Her final memory before losing consciousness was walking through the park with him.
Because of the trauma, she has no memory of the shooting itself.
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict
After hearing testimony, reviewing phone records, and examining digital evidence, the jury found Wooten guilty on April 20.
He will now spend decades in prison for the attempted murder of both the mother and her unborn child.
