Marietta, Georgia — Fifteen children ranging in age from 1 to 17 were found living inside a two-bedroom apartment under what police described as “deplorable conditions,” authorities allege, leading to the arrests of three adults who now face a combined 94 felony charges.
Ashley Jackson, 40, Derrick Jackson, 41, and Briana Reynolds, 36, all of Marietta, were arrested Thursday, Sept. 24, according to online jail records. The three adults face multiple felony counts of first- and second-degree child cruelty, along with a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.
They were being held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, according to jail records.
Welfare Check Leads to Discovery of 15 Children
The investigation began after staff members with the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services asked Marietta police to conduct a welfare check involving two children at an apartment complex on 1955 Bells Ferry Road.
According to arrest warrants obtained by local media outlets, detectives arrived at the apartment but were initially unable to contact any adults inside.
While officers were working to obtain a search warrant, 15 children, between 1 and 17 years old, emerged from the apartment.
DFCS staff subsequently relocated the children to safe environments, according to the arrest warrant.
About three hours later, Ashley Jackson, Derrick Jackson and Reynolds arrived at the apartment. The three reportedly told police that they were the children’s biological parents.
Police Describe Conditions Inside the Apartment
Detectives later executed a search warrant at the residence and allegedly discovered what the arrest warrant described as “deplorable conditions.”
Inside one of the bedrooms, investigators reportedly found a mold-covered blanket hanging in the room. The apartment also contained only nine beds for 15 children and three adults, according to the warrant.
Investigators said the shortage of sleeping arrangements was among the conditions they documented during the search. The food situation was also a major concern.
According to the warrant, the only food detectives found inside the apartment was a jar of peanut butter and a box of pasta. Investigators also allegedly found no toilet paper anywhere inside the apartment.
The findings prompted additional concerns about the children’s living conditions and basic needs.
Neighbor Describes the Children’s Behavior
A neighbor, Randi Hunter, told a local news outlet that she had seen the children leaving the apartment, generally during the early morning hours before dawn. Hunter said the children appeared to keep to themselves and did not interact with people in the area.
“They never talked,” Hunter told the outlet. “They never made eye contact. From what I could see, they didn’t look malnourished, looked like they were eating.”
Hunter also described what she considered unusual behavior when the children walked toward a vehicle.
“As far as like social skills, they never said anything to anybody,” Hunter said. “They just walked straight toward the car, which was pretty odd.”
Her comments provide a neighbor’s account of what she observed, while the allegations against the adults come from police and the arrest warrants.
Three Adults Face Dozens of Felony Charges
The three adults each face 30 counts of child cruelty, according to online jail records.
Derrick Jackson faces an additional charge involving allegedly crossing state or county guard lines with weapons, intoxicants or drugs without consent.
Authorities also allege that Jackson was hiding marijuana in his rectum at the county correctional facility, according to the arrest warrant.
That allegation is separate from the conditions investigators reportedly discovered inside the apartment.
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The three adults were being held without bond, and it was not immediately clear whether they had retained attorneys who could speak on their behalf.
The allegations have not been established as facts in court, and the defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
Children Were Removed From the Apartment
The immediate focus of authorities was the safety of the 15 children.
After they emerged from the apartment during the investigation, DFCS staff moved the children to safe environments, according to the arrest warrant.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work through the allegations surrounding the children’s living conditions and the circumstances that led to the welfare check.
Anyone who suspects child abuse can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453. The service is available around the clock and provides confidential assistance.
What do you think about the conditions described in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let us know how authorities should respond when children are found living in unsafe conditions.
