DEKALB COUNTY — A murder suspect accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend was supposed to face a judge Tuesday, but was a no show.

When the judge called Haithcoats name, his public defender explained what happened.

“I tried calling him this morning to the pod, but he wouldn’t come to the phone. Deputies tried to bring him down but but they told me he was being very combative,” Robin Ayers said.

Ayers asked the judge if he could reset the hearing to Wednesday, which the judge agreed to.

Haithcoats is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend Shaniya Rodriguez about three weeks ago.

Shaniya’s mother, Adrienne Rodriguez, was watching the hearing online.

“I’ve never ever seen that happen before,” Rodriguez said. “I was shocked.”

Rodriguez told Fernandes that she can’t believe her daughter’s boyfriend, who had been living in her house, is her killer. Rodriguez said she called him her son-in-law.

“I was shocked,” Rodriguez said. “I was happy. I was mad. I was disappointed. I was everything in one. I wanted to jump up and down, wanted to scream.”

Shaniya’s baby survived, but is still struggling in the NICU.

Haithcoats is scheduled to appear in court again tomorrow.

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