15 Children Found Living in Appalling Conditions in Georgia Apartment as Three Adults Face 94 Felony Charges

MARIETTA, GEORGIA — Fifteen children, ranging in age from 1 to 17, were discovered living in severely unsanitary conditions inside a two-bedroom apartment in Georgia, according to police records cited by PEOPLE. Three adults are now facing a combined 94 felony charges in connection with the case.

The children were discovered after staff members from Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services requested a welfare check at an apartment complex in Marietta. The request prompted police to investigate the welfare of two children believed to be inside the residence.

When officers arrived on September 24, 2026, they were unable to reach any adults inside the apartment. While detectives were obtaining a search warrant, 15 children reportedly emerged from the home. Child welfare officials subsequently arranged for them to be moved to safer environments.

Investigators Describe Disturbing Living Conditions

After obtaining a warrant, detectives searched the apartment and documented conditions they described as deplorable.

According to the arrest warrants, the two-bedroom home had only nine beds for the 15 children and three adults. Investigators also reportedly found a blanket covered in mold hanging inside one of the bedrooms.

The lack of basic necessities was another major concern. Police records stated that the only food found inside the apartment was a jar of peanut butter and a box of uncooked pasta. Investigators also reported finding no toilet paper.

Three adults — Ashley Jackson, 40, Derrick Jackson, 41, and Briana Reynolds, 36 — later returned to the apartment and reportedly told officers they were the children’s biological parents.

Three Adults Face Multiple Charges

The three adults were arrested and charged with multiple counts of first- and second-degree cruelty to children, according to the report. Each reportedly faces 30 counts of child cruelty, while the combined total across the case reaches 94 felony charges when other alleged offenses are included.

Derrick Jackson also faces an additional charge related to allegedly possessing marijuana at a correctional facility. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The three adults were being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, according to the report. It was not clear whether they had retained attorneys who could comment on their behalf.

Neighbors Recall the Children

A neighbor told local media that the children were often seen leaving the apartment early in the morning. She described them as unusually quiet and said they generally did not make eye contact or speak to others.

Authorities have not publicly established all the circumstances surrounding the children’s living arrangements or how long they had been staying in the apartment.

The investigation highlights the role of welfare checks and child-protection agencies in identifying situations in which children may be at risk. The children have been moved to safer environments while the legal process continues.

The charges against the three adults remain allegations, and the case will be decided through the court system.

Source: PEOPLE