Sherry Magby, Douglasville Georgia Mother, Charged With Child Cruelty After 6 Children Found Living in Deplorable Conditions, Allegedly Forced to Eat Roaches and Ants; New Charges Possible After 1-Year-Old Dies

A Douglasville, Georgia mother is in custody after police discovered six young children living in what investigators described as deplorable conditions, with allegations that the children were left alone for hours without food and forced to eat roaches and ants to survive.

Sherry Magby was arrested and charged with six counts of second-degree child cruelty after authorities responded to a home on James D. Simpson Avenue.

According to investigators, six children ranging in age from 1 to 10 years old were left unsupervised for approximately 12 hours. During that time, a 10-year-old child was reportedly left in charge of the younger siblings, including a toddler and a 1-year-old.

One of the children told police that, in the absence of food, they resorted to eating roaches and ants.

When officers entered the home, they reported a strong foul odor and described the residence as being in severe disarray. The discovery came after emergency responders were called to the home, where a baby was taken away by ambulance. Authorities have not initially disclosed the child’s condition or the reason for the medical emergency.

However, officials have since indicated that the 1-year-old child has died, and additional charges against Magby may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.

Neighbors said they had previously observed concerning conditions at the home, including children playing outside late at night without adult supervision.

“At one time, I told my husband we might need to do a welfare check,” one neighbor said. “He came home around midnight and the kids were outside playing. She wasn’t there.”

The neighbor also expressed heartbreak over the children’s reported lack of food. “If I knew they didn’t have anything to eat, I would have fed them,” she said.

Authorities have not released information regarding the children’s father or whether any other caregivers were involved.

Investigators also confirmed this is not the first time Magby has faced charges involving children. She is reportedly scheduled to stand trial in May for separate charges, including aggravated assault and child cruelty, stemming from a 2023 incident.

The Douglasville Police Department says the investigation remains ongoing as Magby remains in custody and authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the children’s living conditions and the death of the 1-year-old.