A 1‑year‑old child is dead after what investigators describe as traumatic injuries in Elliston, and a 29‑year‑old man from Georgia is now sitting in a Montgomery County jail without bond, facing a stack of charges.
Deputies were called just after 4 p.m. to the Walthall Street area of Elliston on Monday. The child was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where medical staff later pronounced the child dead, according to local officials.
Arrest and charges
Investigators have identified the suspect as 29‑year‑old Jarron Bronte Shirk of Allenhurst, Georgia. They say evidence gathered during the initial probe led directly to his arrest, according to WSLS.
Authorities say Shirk is charged with felony homicide, three counts of felony child endangerment, three counts of misdemeanor allowing access to a firearm by children, three counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and three counts of felony abuse or neglect of a child. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says he is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail.
Medical examiner and autopsy
Montgomery County Fire and EMS were dispatched just after 4 p.m. to the same Walthall Street area, and the child was again taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead there, WSB‑TV reports.
Officials say the child’s body has been sent to the Western District Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Investigators have not released any information about how the child was injured, a silence that underscores just how active and sensitive the case still is.
Investigation status
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says it does not plan to release further details while detectives continue their work, according to WDBJ7. Deputies say evidence collected at the scene factored into Shirk’s arrest, and prosecutors are expected to review the charges as the case moves forward.
No court date has been made public, and the sheriff’s office has declined to offer additional comment beyond the basic outline of the case.
What happens next
For now, Shirk remains jailed without bond, facing multiple felony counts while investigators wait on the autopsy. The results could shape how prosecutors ultimately proceed, according to WSLS.
As of the latest reports, local leaders and neighbors had not issued public statements about the case. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
