Authorities say the children, ages 1 to 17, were living in a two-bedroom Marietta home with little food and nine beds.
MARIETTA, Ga. — Three adults face dozens of child-cruelty charges after authorities said a welfare check led to the discovery of 15 children living in a two-bedroom apartment with little food, limited sleeping space and other conditions investigators described as unsafe.
The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services asked Marietta police to assist with a welfare check involving two children at an apartment on Bells Ferry Road in late September. Police said officers could not reach an adult inside the home and began working to obtain a search warrant. Before the warrant was secured, 15 children between the ages of 1 and 17 came out of the apartment, according to authorities.
Police identified the adults as Ashley Jackson, 40, Derrick Jackson, 41, and Briana Reynolds, 36. Authorities said the three returned to the apartment about three hours after officers arrived and told investigators they were the children’s biological parents. The adults were taken to Marietta Police Department headquarters for interviews before charges were filed.
Investigators said 18 people — the 15 children and three adults — had been living in the two-bedroom apartment. A search found nine beds, according to police and arrest warrants. Court documents also described an inadequate food supply, including a jar of peanut butter and a box of uncooked pasta. Investigators said they found no toilet paper in the residence and saw a mold-spotted blanket hanging in a bedroom.
Authorities also alleged that the children had been left without adult supervision for hours. Police have not said how long all 18 people had been living together in the apartment. Officials have also not released detailed medical information about the children, although police said some required medical care after authorities intervened.
Each of the three adults faces 30 counts of cruelty to children, reflecting two counts involving each of the 15 children, according to police. The charges include allegations of first- and second-degree cruelty to children. All three also face marijuana-possession charges. The charges are accusations, and the defendants have not been found guilty.
Derrick Jackson faces an additional charge of crossing a guard line after authorities alleged marijuana was discovered while he was being processed at the county correctional facility. Police said marijuana was also found inside the apartment where children could have accessed it. Authorities have not publicly detailed whether the three adults have attorneys representing them in the case.
Marietta police spokesperson Chuck McPhilamy told WSB-TV that the investigation began after child welfare officials received separate anonymous reports concerning possible abuse of two children. Police said the case expanded dramatically when all 15 children emerged from the apartment while investigators were seeking permission to search it.
The children were removed from the residence by DFCS and placed in agency-approved homes, authorities said. Their names have not been released because they are minors. Police have provided no detailed public account of the medical conditions of the children who needed care or whether any required hospitalization.
The three adults remained in custody as the case moved through the legal process, according to the latest available reports. Authorities have not announced how long the children may remain in protective placements or released a timetable for further court proceedings. The investigation remains active, and the allegations against the adults have not been adjudicated.
Author note: Last updated October 1, 2026.