Marietta Man Admits To Stabbing His Pregnant Wife To Death

MARIETTA, GA — A Marietta man will serve life in prison for the stabbing death of his pregnant wife. Elvin Leonard Durant, now 52, and Crystal Battle were married in March 2018, and there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship that escalated to Battle's murder on Aug. 25, 2018, though she had separated from him by that time.

In the weeks before her killing, prosecutors said Battle, 38, was afraid to go outside and complained that her husband was mentally and sexually abusive, claiming Durant had insisted he was “King of the Castle” and could have sex with her whenever he wanted. In July, he damaged two televisions that belonged to her and threatened her and her children.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Aug. 25, Durant broke into the Wood Meadows Drive home where Battle lived with her children. A recorded call from ADT Security captured Battle screaming, and police were dispatched to the house. Durant moved people into the living room and told Crystal, “This is the end of you.” Battle's teenage son Jakeem tried to stop Durant, but Durant stabbed him in the thigh before stabbing Battle multiple times in the head and neck.

When police arrived, Durant admitted Battle was dead and “I killed her.” The autopsy confirmed Battle was eight weeks pregnant.

On Friday, Durant pled guilty to murder, burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, feticide and criminal damage to property in the second degree. He was sentenced to life in prison.