A Hall County mother is in jail on a felony child cruelty charge after authorities say she forced her son to undergo unnecessary medical treatments.
Teresa Lynn Roth, 34, of Lula was arrested Thursday, Feb. 21 after a criminal investigation that lasted about four months.
Lt. Scott Ware with the Hall County Sheriff's Office said the boy, who is now age 5, suffered both physical and mental mistreatment from January 2016 until October 2018, when he was removed from his parents' home.
"In the parents' custody, the child was on numerous medications, in a wheelchair, on a feeding tube and the parents drew disability on the child's behalf," Ware said.
Ware would not offer more specific details on the types of medications and treatments the boy underwent, but he said when the child was removed from his parents' home, he no longer required any "medical interventions."
Ware said the case came to light in October 2018 when Children's Health Care of Atlanta contacted the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) in Hall County. DFCS officials then contacted the Hall County Sheriff's Office to investigate possible criminal charges.
At last report, Roth remained in the Hall County Jail with no bond.
Ware said other arrests may be forthcoming in the case.
