Douglas County man sentenced to life for 'unspeakably horrible' abuse

A Douglas County man, Christopher Bader, has been sentenced to life in prison following his guilty plea to multiple counts of incest, aggravated child molestation, and child molestation. The 48-year-old's actions involved the prolonged abuse of two young girls over several years, a situation described by Chief Superior Court Judge Cynthia Adams as "unspeakably horrible." As a part of the sentencing, Bader must serve the first 25 years without the possibility of parole.

The case against Bader began on May 3, 2021, when the Douglas County Sheriff's Office received reports of ongoing sexual abuse. Investigator Jay Smith led the investigation, during which the victims disclosed that they had been groomed and isolated by Bader, leading to increasingly violent abuse. Notably, the girls remained unaware of each other’s suffering for years, compounding their trauma.

As the victims grew older, the abuse worsened, with Bader reportedly supplying them with drugs and alcohol. The investigation uncovered disturbing evidence, including photographs of the abuse on Bader's phone and items recovered from his vehicle that contained the victims' DNA, confirmed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.

Bader was arrested twice throughout the investigation; after initially being granted bond, he failed to appear in court and attempted to flee with one of the victims, leading to his second arrest. At the sentencing hearing, the now-adult victims bravely shared their emotional testimonies, expressing their desire for Bader to be held fully accountable and opting for a guilty plea to spare them from a lengthy trial.

District Attorney Dalia Racine emphasized the profound violation of trust and safety that Bader's actions represented, commending the victims for their bravery in coming forward. Throughout the proceedings, Bader exhibited no emotion or remorse and is facing pending charges related to the same victims in Alabama.