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Written by: E. George
Published December 31, 2023 @ 9:00 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against children.
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – On December 7, 2023, Catoosa County Sheriff’s detectives and a DFCS case manager responded to an April Drive residence in Ringgold to investigate a report of child abuse. The 13-year-old female victim had previously shown the DFCS employee multiple injuries on her hands and arms caused by her parents shooting her with airsoft guns.
Upon arrival, the victim’s mother, 46-year-old Christy Lynn Cribbs, “was uncooperative with DFCS and denied possessing any airsoft guns in their residence.” The detectives obtained a search warrant for the home and determined it to be “unfit for anyone or anything to live in.”
They contacted animal control, who arrived and removed six dogs from the residence. Catoosa Zoning responded and condemned the home.
Detectives arrested the victim’s parents, Cribbs and 43-year-old Fred Franklin Hixon, III, and charged them each with three counts of first-degree child abuse and one count of neglect to a disabled adult. DFCS took custody of the two minor children.
Their eldest child, age 22, relocated to his grandfather’s home in Summerville. This case is pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
Detective Gilleland was assigned a DFACS intake regarding a 13 year old being mistreated and shot with airsoft guns by her parents. On December 7, 2023 at approximately 1140 hours, Detectives Moody and Gilleland along with DFACS Case Manager, [REDACTED], arrived at the child’s address, [100 BLOCK] April Drive, Lot [REDACTED] in Ringgold, Georgia to do a follow up. The mother, Christy Cribbs, was uncooperative with DFACS and denied possessing any airsoft guns in their residence. [REDACTED] had already met with the victim child and verified the injuries on her arms and hands.
A search warrant was obtained for the residence and upon its execution, the residence was found to be unfit for anyone or anything to live in. Six dogs were removed from the home by animal control and Catoosa Zoning responded and condemned the residence.
The parents were arrested for cruelty to children charges and DFACS took custody of the two minor children. The oldest child who is 22 years old, was turned over to his grandfather who resides in Summerville, Georgia. All investigative material will be included in the case file; case is cleared by arrest.
[End of Narrative]