Mother Charged After 1-Year-Old Dies From Eating Bugs While Left Alone for Over 12 Hours

A one-year-old toddler lost his life after eating bugs while he was left alone at home by his mother without food. The court has charged the mother of the toddler with several felony counts, including second-degree cruelty to children. The incident occurred in Douglasville, GA, when the toddler allegedly resorted to eating bugs and cockroaches.

A woman identified as Sherry Mogby was arrested on April 2 and charged on April 9. Mogby faces six counts of second-degree cruelty to children in connection with the death of her 1-year-old child.

There were six children, of whom five were left alone in the house without any adult supervision. The toddler, along with his siblings, was left alone in the house for 12 hours without food, which allegedly led him to eat bugs and cockroaches. All the children were left under the supervision of an older sibling who was 10 years old, according to Mogby’s arrest warrant.

The 37-year-old woman was arrested on April 2, according to jail records reviewed by People. Mogby is currently being held without bond.

According to the warrant obtained by ANF, the children were left alone for 12 hours with no “adequate food or suitable living conditions.” The document said police found the home had a “strong, foul odor consistent with unsanitary living conditions,” according to the outlet’s report citing the warrant.

Ken Howell, with Community Outreach, said he wished he had known about the family’s condition so he could have helped. “All they had to do was come down here,” Howell said. “We could have helped them get food," he added.

“We are devastated over the loss of this child and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones,” a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services said in a statement to ANF.

“We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation fully.”

The Douglas County Sheriff’s office is reportedly investigating the matter.