IVEY, Ga. (AP) - The parents of a 12-year-old middle Georgia girl who died last week have been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday that it had arrested 38-year-old John Joseph "Joey" Yozviak on the charges. Investigators had arrested the mother, Mary Katherine "Katie" Horton, on the same charges on Thursday.
Their 12-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn Yozviak, was pronounced dead at a Milledgeville hospital on Wednesday after Katie Horton called 911 to report her daughter was unresponsive.
A preliminary investigation shows Kaitlyn was subjected to "excessive physical pain due to medical negligence," according to a GBI news release.
"Basically there's a history with Department of Family and Children Services in a number of counties in this area since the child has been born," GBI Agent Mary Chandler told WMAZ-TV.
The family moved to Wilkinson County in February. Chandler declined to discuss details but said, "This condition of a child is the worst we've ever seen."