A woman in the US state of Georgia is facing six counts of second-degree child abuse after allegedly leaving six children unattended at home for around 12 hours, an incident in which a 12-month-old infant reportedly died.
The suspect, 37-year-old Sherry Magby, is accused of leaving five children aged under eight under the supervision of a 10-year-old child, according to an arrest warrant cited by Atlanta News First.
Court documents state that the children were left without adequate food and were living in unsuitable conditions. The residence was also reported to have a strong foul odour linked to poor sanitation, with rooms found in a severely cluttered state.
A spokesperson from the Georgia Department of Human Services confirmed that the deceased 12-month-old infant had allegedly been forced to consume insects, including cockroaches and ants, due to a lack of food in the home.
Authorities have not confirmed the suspect’s relationship to the children at this stage. Officials expressed condolences over the infant’s death and said they are fully cooperating with law enforcement as investigations continue.
Magby was previously scheduled to face trial next month in an unrelated child abuse case, involving allegations that she injured a child while the victim attempted to escape. The latest charges have intensified scrutiny as investigations into both cases continue.
