From Law & Crime · · 3m
Georgia mom sentenced to 80 years for child abuse
Georgia mother sentenced to 80 years in prison after locking 9-year-old daughter in bedroom with bucket toilet and starving her.
In brief
Georgia mother sentenced to 80 years in prison after locking 9-year-old daughter in bedroom with bucket toilet and starving her. Kristy Cooley, a Georgia mother, will spend decades in prison after being convicted of child abuse including locking her 9-year-old daughter in a bedroom with a bucket toilet and starving…
Kristy Cooley sentenced
Kristy Cooley, a Georgia mother, received an 80-year prison sentence after being convicted of two counts of aggravated battery, eight counts of cruelty to children, and two counts of tampering with evidence.
Child abuse details
Cooley locked her 9-year-old daughter in her bedroom for days at a time, forced her to use a bucket as a toilet, and starved her until she had to sneak out to find food.
Physical and psychological abuse
Doctors testified that Cooley's treatment included physical and psychological abuse as well as medical neglect, with the girl being beaten with pipes and sticks if caught sneaking food.
Child's age and vulnerability
The 9-year-old girl was Cooley's middle child and the only target of abuse, with prosecutors finding images of her with a black eye at ages five or six.
Teacher's report
One of the girl's teachers noticed signs of abuse during a mandatory check-in and alerted police, but there was no follow-up from the Division of Family & Children Services.
Stepfather charged
The girl's stepfather was also charged in connection with the abuse but died before he could stand trial.
Sentence details
Cooley will serve 40 years behind bars after being sentenced to 80 years in prison for the crimes.
Courtroom reporting
Prosecutors said Cooley watched her daughter through cameras in her home in Lilburn, Georgia, to ensure the girl's behavior met her standards.
Child's condition
The girl was forced to use a bucket as a toilet and sneak out of her room to find food, with Cooley beating her with pipes and sticks if caught.
Prosecutors' claims
Prosecutors reported that Cooley subjected her daughter to years of 'child torture' and that the girl was deprived of food and medical care.
No follow-up
The Division of Family & Children Services was alerted to conditions in Cooley's home when her 9-year-old was a toddler, but there was no follow-up.
Court case
The case was reported by Atlanta-based Fox affiliate WAGA, with prosecutors speaking to the media about the abuse.
Child's age
The girl was 9 years old when she was the target of Cooley's abuse, making her the only child in the household affected.
Abuse timeline
Cooley's abuse began when the girl was a toddler and continued for years, with the girl being forced to use a bucket as a toilet and starving her.
Physical abuse
Cooley beat the girl with pipes and sticks if caught sneaking food, and burned her until she lost consciousness.
Medical neglect
The girl suffered medical neglect, with prosecutors finding images of her with a black eye at ages five or six.
The bottom line
Kristy Cooley, a Georgia mother, will spend decades in prison after being convicted of child abuse including locking her 9-year-old daughter in a bedroom with a bucket toilet and starving her.
