Written by: E. George
Published March 30, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against/neglect of children.
FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. – On March 7, 2024, a Rome Police officer arrested a mother and charged her with misdemeanor abandonment of a dependent child after she dropped off her 14-year-old daughter at the Leon Street Open Door Children’s Home. Staff at the organization informed law enforcement that they no longer housed runaway or abandoned juveniles.
The reporting officer arrived at the Children’s Home at approximately 9:11 PM and spoke with staff, who explained that the juvenile’s mother never exited her vehicle. The child told them her mother instructed her to say she had nowhere else to go.
When the officer asked what led to this drastic outcome, she said they were dining at Outback Steakhouse when her mother abruptly took her back to their residence, directed her to pack an outfit for school the next day, and left her at the facility. She said she had downloaded TikTok videos onto her cell phone and was now receiving spam calls from out-of-state numbers, which was “becoming an issue” for her mom.
She added that she was diagnosed with a disability, and her mother is struggling to handle the educational difficulties she experiences. A staff member mentioned that the child’s mother, Krystal Lorae Foster, was a former Floyd County – Georgia Division of Family and Children Services employee.
The officer called Foster, who stated that her daughter was constantly getting into trouble and refused to hand over her phone when directed. She said that multiple DFCS cases had been filed against her due to her daughter’s disabilities and behavioral problems.
She stated that her daughter could no longer stay with her because she refused to follow her household rules. She added that her family members do not help or support her and emphasized that her daughter would not be returning to her residence.
She said she left her at the facility because it was “a reasonably safe location,” and they would house her.
Another officer traveled to Foster’s Claridge Drive home and interviewed her in person. Foster stated that she had enough of trying to take care of her daughter and her “special needs.”
She said she could not get any help looking after her, and she could no longer live in her home if she did not abide by her rules. She remained adamant about not permitting her daughter to return “under any circumstances.”
She stated that DFCS “could open a case” on her child, take custody of her, and police could take her (Foster) to jail if they needed to. The officer asked what her plan for her daughter was after she dropped her off at the organization, and she said she expected her to stay there for a few days until DFCS was called.
She again stressed that she would not let her come back to live with her because she “was done trying to take care of her child.”
When an additional officer arrived, they arrested Foster and transported her to the Floyd County Jail. Authorities notified DFCS of the situation, and at approximately 11:30 PM, the juvenile was transferred into their custody.
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.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on March 07, 2024]
On Thursday March 7, 2024 at approximately 21:11 hours I, PFC Falcitelli, was dispatched to 5 Leon St (Open Door Home) in reference to a [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that had been abandoned by her mother at the location.
Upon my arrival the complainant ([REDACTED]) advised that the juvenile had been dropped off by the mother with the mother never leaving the vehicle. The juvenile stated that her mother (Krystal Foster) told her to enter the building and advised the staff present that she had nowhere else to go. I asked the juvenile what had lead to this drastic outcome with her stating she they had been out to eat at Outback and when Ms. Foster had abruptly taken her back to their residence [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told her to pack an outfit for school tomorrow and left her at the Open Door Home.
The juvenile advised that she had downloaded TikTok videos onto her phone and was receiving Spam calls from out of state phone numbers with that becoming an issue for Ms. Foster. The juvenile also advised that Ms. Foster was also struggling due to the juvenile having a disability with the mother unable to handle the educational difficulties associated with this. I was also advised by Ms. [REDACTED] and another staff member ([REDACTED]) that Ms. Foster is a former employee of the Floyd County office of the GA Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS).
I reviewed video footage of the incident and observed a vehicle (2021 White Hyundai Tuscon GA [REDACTED]) travel into the parking lot of the residence from Fay St driven by a female subject. The juvenile the exited the vehicle, with the vehicle then exiting the lot turning onto Leon St. At approximately 22:14 hours the video was collected as evidence and will be placed at the Rome Police Department.
I had Officer Blankenship make contact with Ms. Foster at her residence and I spoke to her by phone. Ms. Foster stated that her daughter was constantly getting in trouble. Ms. Foster then advised that the juvenile had refused to give Ms. Foster her phone when asked to. She also stated that due to the juveniles disabilities and behavioral problems that multiple DFCS cases had been filed against her. Ms. Foster stated that due to her daughter not following the rules of her household she could no longer stay with her.
Ms. Foster also advised she has had no support from her family because of her daughter and mentioned multiple times that the juvenile would not be returning to the residence. Ms. Foster also advised that she abandoned the juvenile at the Open Door Home because it was a reasonably safe location and they would house her. I was later told by the staff that they no longer housed runaway or abandoned juveniles.
Due to the nature of the incident the on-call DFCS investigator ([REDACTED]) was notified of the incident. At approximately 22:02 hours Ms. Foster was placed under arrest, with handcuffs placed on her person, and searched incident to arrest. Ms. Foster was transported to and booked at the Floyd County Jail for 19-10-1 Abandonment of Dependent Child (Misdemeanor).
At approximately 23:23 hours the juvenile was transferred into the custody of DFCS personnel ([REDACTED]).
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on March 07, 2024]
On March 7, 2024 at approximately 2131 hours, I (Ofc Blankenship) was dispatched to [2100 BLOCK] Clairidge Drive to attempt to make contact with Krystal Lorae Foster. This was in reference to her [REDACTED BY AGENCY] being dropped off on her own at the Open Door Girls Home. It was alleged that Krystal had kicked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] out her car at the Girl’s Home and had left her there.
I made contact with Krystal at the above residence and asked her about what had happened tonight. Krystal told me that she had enough of trying to take care of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] She advised that her daughter was special needs and that Krystal had already had two DFCS cases closed on her daughter. She told me that she couldn’t get any help for taking care of [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and advised that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] could no longer live in her home if she was not going to abide by Krystal’s rules.
PFC Falcitelli then spoke with Krystal by phone while I was with her and she advised him the same as she had advised me. Krystal was adamant that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was not going to be allowed back into her home under any circumstances. Krystal advised us that DFCS could open a case on [REDACTED BY AGENCY], take custody of her, and that we could take her (Krystal) to jail if we needed to.
I asked Krystal what her plan was for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] after dropping her off at the Girl’s Home. She advised that she expected [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to stay there for a few days until DFCS was called and that she was not going to let her come back to live with her because she was done trying to take care of her child.
I then waited for another officer to arrive before placing Krystal under arrest. I placed her into handcuffs, fit and double locked, and gathered a few items from her residence that she asked for before placing her in the back of my patrol car. I then transported her to the Floyd County Jail where PFC Falcitelli filled out his charges on her.
The back of my patrol vehicle was checked before and after transport.
[End of Narrative]