Murray County, Ga., authorities confirm that a third woman has been charged in the case that launched last week after two cages were found in a home in Chatsworth built to hold two “special needs” children.
Gloria Jane Brown, 64, turned herself in at the Murray County Jail earlier today and is currently attending a bond hearing. Brown has been charged with one count of false imprisonment and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children.
Officials at the Murray County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon were unable to say specifically how Brown is connected to the case.
Two other women, including the children’s mother, have already been charged in the case investigated by local authorities and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Last week, the children’s biological mother, Stephanie Elizabeth Stone, 34, was charged with first-degree cruelty to children, false imprisonment and possession of a controlled substance. Another woman, Wanda Sue Redfern, 49, was charged with cruelty to children, first degree, and false imprisonment.
Murray County deputies first responded around 11 a.m. August 6 to a 911 call at 530 Bahamas Drive in Chatsworth regarding a child left alone and was met by a woman later identified as Redfern and a small girl.
Because the deputy found an adult with the child he left but a second call from the same person around 3:15 p.m. the same day provided more information.
Deputies were again met by Redfern and the little girl and they entered where they found two homemade cages, one empty and the other holding an 11-year-old boy.
A GBI agent described the boy and girl as “special needs children” and said the Georgia Department of Family Children Services had a case open with the family in the past but closed that case in June.
GBI officials said the children were caged for “some period of time” but he couldn’t say precisely how long the boy and girl were imprisoned.
The boy was being held in a makeshift cage made from two, metal twin bed frames, combined with metal hinges and wire ties to hold the cage together.
The girl apparently was being kept in the other cage made of wooden bed frame parts with wood shelving added with screws to hold it together.
Both children were said to be in “good” shape on Friday.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.