Three days before Christopher Michael Barrios disappeared, a convicted child molester suspected in the 6-year-old's killing was sentenced to probation instead of prison time for violating conditions of Georgia's sex offender registry.

Court documents state that in 1997 George Edenfield, the man police said told them he killed Christopher, admitted he molested his neighbors -- a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old boy.

Edenfield never served prison time for his 1997 child molestation conviction after he struck a plea deal with prosecutors, according to a review of court records.

Stephen Kelley, district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, said on Monday that it was not a breakdown in the system -- just a tragic situation.

Still, Christopher's father and grandmother blamed the court system for not putting Edenfield in prison. Christopher's grandmother, Sue Rodriquez, said she is amazed the sex offender never served any prison time.

"They give him every opportunity to do everything he wants to do -- everything. If that was the case, why didn't they keep him in jail?" Rodriquez said. "I think that's awful sorry of the judge knowing his criminal -- that he already molested two children, he's on violation of probation, to turn around and send him home."

The 32-year-old Edenfield is one of four suspects arrested last week in connection with Christopher's abduction and slaying. His parents, Peggy and David Edenfield, as well as family friend Donald Dale were also arrested in connection with the boy's disappearance.

The child's body was found Thursday stuffed in a trash bag dumped along a wooded roadside about three miles from his home. He had been missing for a week.

On March 5, three days before Christopher vanished, George Edenfield pleaded guilty in Superior Court to violating a state law that prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds or other places that draw children.

Court records show sheriffs' deputies told Edenfield in September that he had 10 days to move from his previous home near downtown Brunswick, which sat too close to a playground.

He was arrested Oct. 9 after he failed comply.

Rodriguez said she believes more should have been done to protect her grandchild.

"If the judge would have kept in him jail, our baby would be here. He wouldn't have been in Heaven with God," Rodriquez said.

Edenfied has not been charged with murder in the death of Christopher Barrios.

Channel 4's Melanie Lawson reported the district attorney said on Monday that he is bringing the case to a grand jury Wednesday morning and expects the charges to be upgraded that same morning.

Previous Stories:

• March 19, 2007: Slaying Prompts Outcry Over Sex Offender Nearby
• March 17, 2007: Community Copes After Boy's Search Ends In Tragedy
• March 16, 2007: Missing Boy Found Dead; 4 May Face Murder Charges
• March 15, 2007: New Search, More Evidence, But No Sign Of Missing Boy
• March 15, 2007: Police Search Pond, Follow New Tips In Missing Boy Case
• March 15, 2007: 2nd Search Warrant Executed At Sex Offender's Home
• March 14, 2007: 2 More Arrests In Christopher's Disappearance
• March 13, 2007: Sex Offender, Offender's Mother Arrested In Boy's Disappearance
• March 12, 2007: Police Search Sex Offender's Trailer In Hunt For Missing 6-Year-Old
• March 12, 2007: After 4 Days, Police Believe Georgia Boy Was Abducted
• March 11, 2007: $27,000 Reward Offered For Missing Georgia Boy
• March 10, 2007: Searchers, Family Determined To Find Missing 6-Year-Old
• March 9, 2007: After 24 Hours, No Sign Of Missing Georgia Boy