Authorities say a Douglas County woman is facing serious charges after six siblings were allegedly left alone for about 12 hours inside a Douglasville home, with a 10-year-old put in charge of five younger children, most of them under 8. Arrest warrants state that one of the children was found eating roaches and ants because there was not enough food in the home. Investigators also noted a strong, foul odor and rooms in disarray throughout the house on James D. Simpson Avenue.
According to the arrest warrants, Sherry Magby has been charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to children. The documents, which form the basis of the allegations, do not spell out her relationship to the children but say the siblings were left without adequate food or suitable living conditions while "under the supervision" of the 10-year-old for roughly half a day. Those details appear in the warrants, as reported by Atlanta News First.
Charges and potential penalties
Under Georgia law, cruelty to children in the second degree covers conduct that, through criminal negligence, causes a child cruel or excessive physical or mental pain. A conviction under O.C.G.A. -5-70 can carry a prison sentence ranging from one to ten years, according to the Georgia Code.
What happens next
Public information in the case is currently limited to the arrest warrants, which contain the most detailed account authorities have released so far. In situations like this, prosecutors and child-welfare officials typically review warrants and investigative files when deciding on formal charges and what protective steps to take for the children, though any specific moves in this case have not been disclosed. For the initial reporting on the warrants, see Atlanta News First.
Reporting and local supports
If you suspect child abuse or neglect in Georgia, the Division of Family & Children Services operates a 24/7 Child Protective Services hotline at 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453) and an online reporting portal at cps.dhs.ga.gov, according to Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. For questions about public records or local arrest information, residents can consult the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
