Police Charge Man with Murders of Two Lawrenceville Boys

On Thursday, just before noon, Gwinnett County Police announced they captured a suspect in the murders of two young children.

Police charged 28 year-old Antonio Cardenas-Rico with the murders of Bradley Garcia, age 3, and his 1 year-old brother Edward. The boys were at their home at 1110 Bridle Path Drive. A third child, also age 3, was also attacked and stabbed. He survived, but was taken by helicopter to a children’s hospital in Atlanta where he is listed in critical but stable condition.  The children’s father, 23 year-old Elvis Garcia, was also stabbed and taken to where he is listed in serious but stable condition.

Police say Cardenas-Rico has not been charged with attacking the third child or the father as the investigation continues. “One murder charge was enough to hold him indefinitely until the investigation is concluded,” said GCPD Cpl. Jake Smith. “They (the investigators) had enough evidence to get both murder warrants, and they’ll just wait to the conclusion of the investigation until they make any more charges.”

The bodies of the children killed were found in the finished basement of the home where the Garcias lived. Another family lived in the main part of the home. That family was not at home when the attacks took place around 6:30pm Wednesday evening.

Smith says this scene was difficult for him as a police officer. “This is the most awful thing that we as police officers and a community as a whole have to deal with—losing lives, especially when it’s children. But catching the people [who did it] is what makes it worth it,” he adds.

Investigators do not know if Cardenas-Rico forced his way into the home or if he was invited in earlier. “He (Cardenas-Rico) was familiar with the family and the family was familiar with him,” said Smith.

The mother of the three boys and another sibling were not at home at the time of the attacks. She and the other child were later accounted for and unharmed physically. The mother spent Wednesday morning talking with detectives about the case. “She’s being really cooperative in the investigation,” acknowledged Smith.

Police are not yet releasing a mug shot of Cardenas-Rico for fear it might jeopardize the case.  “The photo will have to be shown at later points to witnesses and victims,” Smith said. “It would be best if they did not catch a glimpse of the photo on TV so there’s no familiarity outside of what they would have just with the incident.”

Cardenas-Rico is currently in custody without bond.