Missing juvenile case leads to child cruelty charges in Jackson County

GILLSVILLE - Jackson County authorities charged a Gillsville woman with second degree child cruelty at the culmination of a missing juvenile case this week.

According to Sheriff Janis Mangum, deputies responded to the missing call on Buffington Road Tuesday. She said the female juvenile was found at a neighbor's residence.

While authorities haven't released details, deputies suspected a child cruelty situation. They took the girl, her younger sister and brother to the sheriff's office where they met with investigators and the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).

Mangum said further investigation led to the charges against the adoptive mother of the children.

Kristy Rebecca Alexander, 36, of Gillsville, was arrested and charged with three counts of cruelty to children in the second degree, according to Mangum.

The sheriff said the investigation is ongoing. The children were turned over to DFCS.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/12/269062