Authorities arrest Sherry Magby following death of toddler left without food

Sherry Magby has been charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to children following the tragic death of her one-year-old child in Douglasville, Georgia.

Local outlet ANF reports that the thirty-seven-year-old mother was arrested on 2 April and is currently being held without bond after the child allegedly died in harrowing circumstances.

The arrest warrant, cited by ANF on Thursday, 9 April 2026, alleges that Magby left six children alone for twelve hours without adequate food or suitable living conditions.

Five of the minors were reportedly left under the supervision of a ten-year-old sibling. Police who attended the scene described a foul odor consistent with unsanitary surroundings.

In a heartbreaking detail, it is alleged the children resorted to eating ants and cockroaches due to the lack of sustenance.

"All they had to do was come down here," Ken Howell of Community Outreach told WSB-TV, expressing profound regret that the family’s situation remained unknown. "We could have helped them get food."

The Georgia Department of Human Services also released a statement regarding the incident. "We are devastated over the loss of this child and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones," a spokesperson told ANF, confirming their full cooperation with the ongoing law enforcement investigation.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is leading the inquiry into the family's welfare. This case follows Magby’s initial detention earlier this month, as authorities continue to examine the events leading up to the infant's death and the safety of the surviving siblings.