A Georgia couple is behind bars after allegedly forcing their 3-year-old son to live alone in a filthy shed with no running water or electricity for nearly a month.
Joseph Matthew Turner, 35, and Sarah Elizabeth Pombert, 34, are facing charges of second-degree cruelty to children following a disturbing investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. According to an arrest warrant, the couple made the toddler live in a shed behind their home in Douglasville—about 20 miles west of Atlanta—for roughly three weeks, from May 1 to May 22.
Authorities say the boy was kept in a “dirty living space” with no plumbing or electricity. He was allegedly left unsupervised, unbathed, and unclothed, causing what police described as “cruel and excessive mental and physical pain.”
The case came to light after the shed caught fire over Memorial Day weekend, drawing attention to the property. Neighbor Matthew Govoni told local ABC affiliate WSB that the fire was massive, with explosions tearing through the structure. While the warrant did not specify how the abuse was discovered, Govoni said the blaze is what triggered the investigation.
“There was a huge fire with explosions,” Govoni recalled. “I’m saddened for them and the child, but I mean, for the child, I hope they can get to a place where they can be helped.”
He also wasn’t surprised by the allegations. “With the lifestyle they live, I’m not surprised by any of that, really,” he added.
The child was not injured in the fire, and officials have not released further details about his current condition or custody status.
Court records show Turner and Pombert were officially charged on May 29 and arrested on June 2. As of Sunday, both remained in the Douglas County Jail. It is unclear whether either of them has retained legal counsel.
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Author: What’s Up Team
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