Three parents were arrested after 15 children, ranging in age from one to 17, were discovered living in a two‑bedroom apartment in Marietta, Georgia, in conditions described by police as “deplorable.” The incident began when Marietta police conducted a welfare check on the building after reports of two children living there. Unable to contact an adult, officers obtained a search warrant.
When the warrant was executed, police found 18 people—three adults and the 15 children—in the apartment. The warrant documented that the children lacked basic sustenance and hygiene, noting the absence of toilet paper, insufficient food, and only nine beds for the occupants. Mold was also reported in several areas, including one bedroom.
Department of Family Services staff removed the children from the apartment and placed them in safe environments. The adults were taken into custody and transported to the Marietta Police Department for questioning before formal charges were filed.
Ashley Jackson, 40, was charged with first‑degree cruelty to children, second‑degree cruelty to children, and misdemeanor marijuana possession. Derrick Jackson, 41, and Briana Reynolds, 36, face the same cruelty charges, with Derrick also charged for allegedly crossing the guard line after police discovered marijuana hidden in his rectum while he was in jail.
