Distressing Discovery in Georgia Apartment

Law enforcement officials in Georgia have arrested three adults following the discovery of 15 children residing in what authorities described as “deplorable” conditions within a two-bedroom apartment.

According to online jail records, Ashley Jackson (40), Derrick Jackson (41), and Briana Reynolds (36) were taken into custody on Thursday, September 24. They face numerous felony charges, including multiple counts of first and second-degree child cruelty, alongside a misdemeanor charge related to marijuana possession. Currently, all three defendants are being detained at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond.


Details of the Investigation

The situation came to light after the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services requested a welfare check for two children at the apartment complex. Officers from the Marietta Police Department arrived at the scene and were met by the three adults three hours later, who claimed to be the biological parents of the children present.

Upon conducting a search of the residence, detectives encountered extreme sanitary issues. The arrest warrant detailed the following findings:

  • A blanket covered in mold was discovered in one of the bedrooms.
  • The apartment contained only nine beds to accommodate the 18 people living there (15 children and three adults).
  • Food supplies were critically low, with officers noting only a single jar of peanut butter and a box of pasta.
  • The residence lacked essential supplies, including toilet paper.

Additional Charges and Legal Status

Each of the three adults is facing 30 counts of child cruelty. Furthermore, Derrick Jackson faces an additional charge of crossing state/county guard lines with contraband. According to the warrant, this charge was filed after authorities suspected he attempted to conceal marijuana in his rectum while at the correctional facility.

It remains unclear if the accused have entered pleas or obtained legal representation. The Marietta Police Department has not provided further comment on the ongoing investigation.


“They never talked,” a witness remarked regarding the children's behavior. “They never made eye contact. From what I could see, they didn’t look malnourished, looked like they were eating.”