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Written by: E. George
Published January 22, 2024 @ 12:55 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged physical violence against/neglect of children.
BIBB COUNTY, Ga. – Sheriff’s deputies arrested and transported a Macon woman to the Bibb County Jail on Sunday, December 8, 2024, after she reportedly told her juvenile daughter to leave her home and did not allow her back inside. Kenyata Melissa Upshaw was charged with first-degree child cruelty, and DFCS was notified of the case.
A witness, Upshaw’s sister, explained that the suspect, who had been committing these acts for years, threw her daughter out of the house three weeks ago wearing only a nightgown. Upshaw refused to let her back in, even to retrieve clothing for school.
The witness said Upshaw put two pairs of shoes bought by her uncle on the front porch but would not allow her to retrieve any other items. She said Upshaw mistreated her children and did not feed them properly.
She explained that each time the authorities or DFCS were called, the children were too afraid to describe “what’s really going on.” The witness’s husband explained that he usually goes to pick up the children when they are walking after being thrown out.
He said he had been dealing with the situation for several years, and nothing had been done about it.
When the deputies spoke with the suspect, she refused to let her daughter back in the house; then, she said she could come back but could not get any of her belongings. The deputies informed her that she could not deny her daughter access to the home because she was a minor.
Upshaw “kept saying her daughter was mad about not getting a cell phone,” one officer noted.
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.]
On Sunday December 8, 2024, at approximately 1055 hours, I Deputy S. Howard was dispatched to [3200 BLOCK] Clairmont Ave in reference to retrieving items for a juvenile due to her being put out the house by her mother, upon arrival, I spoke with [WITNESS #1], she stated her niece [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was put out her house by her mother in just a gown three weeks ago, and that her mother Kenyata Upshaw is refusing to let her back in the house or let her get the clothes needed for school tomorrow because she had to take a test, she said the mother said that she could only get two pair of her shoes that her uncle bought her and she would put them on the front porch but she was not going to let her get anything else, or come back in the house she said this is an ongoing issue with her sister putting her children out the house, and they either walk to her house or her husband [WITNESS #2] go pick them up, she said when she told Kenyata she was about to call the police she changed her phone number, and told her nieces not to give them the new phone number, Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated, they were being mistreated and not eating right, and that every time the police or DFACS speak to the kids they are scared to tell what’s really going on,
I told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] whatever is going on she needed to tell me or the case worker when they speak with her. I also asked her did she leave on her on, and she said no her mom told her to leave then make it seem like she ran away this is not the first time this incident has occurred the police has been called to this address several times since September 13, 2024, Kenyata Upshaw’s sister Mrs. [WITNESS #1] also has contacted the Department of Family and Children Services twice on last year due to her putting her kids out and dropping them off at her address. Mr. [WITNESS #2] stated he’s been dealing with this situation for several years, and that nothing has been done about it, and that he is the one that usually have to pick the girls up when they are walking due to being put out the house. I had Deputy Min Ha go to [900 BLOCK] Birch Street to see if he could get in contact with Ms. Upshaw, but at first no one was there but the kids, so they called her and she said she wasn’t going to let her daughter back in the house, then she said she could come back, but she couldn’t get any of her belongings, I advised she could not deny her daughter access into the house because she I still a minor. When I contacted Ms. Upshaw, she kept saying her daughter was mad about not getting a cellphone.
I called Sergeant Inzar and advised him of the situation then spoke with Crimes Against Children Investigator Carswell, I explained to her what was going on and she said I could charge Upshaw with Cruelty to Children in the first degree, and that she was going to contact DFACS, Upshaw was transported to the Bibb County Lec.
[End of Narrative]
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