Child dies after Douglas County woman allegedly leaves 6 siblings home alone for hours

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A Douglas County woman is facing several charges after six children were left home alone for hours, one of whom died, according to arrest warrants and state officials.

Sherry Magby, 37, was charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to children.

Arrest warrants state five young siblings, all under 8 years old, were left for 12 hours “under the supervision” of their 10-year-old sibling.

The siblings were left without “adequate food or suitable living conditions,” the warrants state.

The incident happened at a home on James D. Simpson Avenue in Douglasville.

The warrants state a “strong, foul odor consistent with unsanitary living conditions” was at the home, and that every room was in disarray.

One of the children was eating roaches and ants because there was “insufficient food” in the home, the warrants state. Police said that child was the 1-year-old.

Magby’s relationship to the children is unknown.

On Thursday, a Georgia Department of Human Services spokesperson confirmed to Atlanta News First that one of the children died.

“We are devastated over the loss of this child and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones. We will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The department did not release further details. Atlanta News First is working to gather information from law enforcement on the child’s death, including possible upgraded charges.

Magby has an upcoming trial next month for another child cruelty charge from a separate case, in which she’s accused of cutting a child in the back while he tried to get away from her.