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Written by B. Collins
Published November 15, 2022 @ 10:00 PM ET
Chatham County (November 1, 2022) – A Pooler mother, Lafiauna Moss, has been charged with child cruelty after her 3-year-old son was found wandering around a busy street in nothing but a t-shirt and a heavily soiled diaper.
A neighbor called the police after a 3-year-old boy and a German Shepherd showed up at her front door. The neighbor did not recognize the child or the dog. The child was wearing only a t-shirt and a soiled diaper, so full and saturated that it was almost falling off of him. It was apparent the child had not been cared for in several hours.
About thirty minutes after the police arrived, Moss appeared at the scene and spoke to the police. She lied to the police, claiming to be the child’s sister and that she had been in the shower when her brother had escaped.
She told police where they lived, about 100 yards away and across a bustling road from where the child was found. When police asked where the mother was, she told officers at work. She lied to the police, providing a false phone number that was disconnected.
Moss eventually confessed to police that she was the child’s mother and had left him in another room while taking a shower.
Another officer on the scene followed Moss back to her home to obtain her ID, where she handed the officer her phone and allowed him to speak with her mother on the phone. Her mother confirmed to police that Moss was, in fact, the child’s mother, but she had lied to the police out of fear.
After the call, the officer asked to go inside the home to investigate the living conditions, but Moss refused to let the officer enter.
The child was transported to the hospital to be checked out, and the Division of Family & Children Services was notified regarding the situation.
Due to the negligence on the mother’s part, not noticing her child missing for an extended period of time, and the child’s condition when police arrived, she was charged with cruelty to children. Moss was arrested and transported to the Chatham County Detention Center.
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 November 01, 2022]
I was dispatched to [200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Cir, in reference to an approximately two year old with a German Shepard dog that was at the front door of this address.
Upon arrival, I observed the juvenile at the front door of [200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Cir. with a dog. The juvenile appeared to be less than three years old and unable to talk. He did not know where he lived. He was only wearing a diaper and t-shirt. The diaper he was wearing was completely full and soiled to the point that it was sagging almost falling off. I approached the residence and met with the Witness, Ms. [WITNESS #1]. She advised that she had never seen the juvenile nor dog before in the area.
APO Alberts arrived on scene to assist. I requested Pooler Fire to the scene to check the welfare and health of the child as the state of the diaper made it appear that he had not been cared for in for several hours.
EMS unit 62 and Pooler Fire arrived on scene and were able to check the child.
After being on scene for approximately 30-40 from the time of the call at 1013 hrs, the Offender approached the scene and spoke with APO Alberts (See APO Alberts’ supplemental). He said that she told him that she was the juvenile’s sister and that they lived at [200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Cir.
[200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Cir is approximately 100 yards and across a very busy street from the location where the juvenile was found.
I collected all of the pertinent information from her and asked where their mother was. She stated their mother ([WITNESS #2]) was at work and provided a phone number. The phone number was not active. She was unable to provide where [WITNESS #2] worked. The Offender eventually revealed that she was the juvenile’s mother. I asked what she was doing when the juvenile had left. She said she was showering and she left him in another room.
Chatham EMS agreed to transport the juvenile to the hospital to be checked out and meet DFACS. They stood by on scene while I called DFACS.
I called the DFACS mandated reporter line and submitted the report for immediate response. I received a call from Ms. [REDACTED] (Employee# 01137221). She advised that she would respond to the hospital and arrive within 30 minutes. Chatham EMS transported the juvenile to the children’s hospital at Memorial Hospital.
Due to the state of the diaper when the juvenile was found, the distance from the juvenile’s residence where he was found, and the length of time in negligence of which it took the Offender to realize that the child was missing, the Offender was charged with Cruelty to Children in the second degree.
The Offender was handcuffed behind her back and checked for fit. She was transported to CCDC without incident. She waived her first appearance and preliminary hearing. She was given a bond of $3500. She was turned over to CCDC staff.
Ms. [WITNESS #2] arrived on scene and took control of the dog that was with the juvenile.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on November 01, 2022]
On 11/01/22 I responded to assist Ofc. Pentecost with a juvenile that was found wondering the streets near [200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Circle.
Upon arrival, I stood by with the child until I was approached by a black female. She immediately advised that she was the child’s sister. She told me that she lived a few houses down the street. She also advised that she was taking a shower when her alleged 3 year old brother escaped from the home.
Shortly after this I followed her to her residence at [200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Circle to get her ID. She then handed me her cell phone.
I spoke with her mother. Her mother advised me that her daughter was actually the mother of the child and that she lied to police because she was scared. I asked if I could come inside to see the living conditions for the child and she refused entry.
I then walked back to [200 BLOCK] Silverbrook Circle and advised Ofc. Pentecost of this information.
[End of Narrative]
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