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Written by: E. George
Published January 31, 2025 @ 2:40 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged physical violence against children.
BURKE COUNTY, Ga. – Waynesboro Police officers arrested a woman on December 12, 2024, and charged her with first-degree child cruelty – family violence after a report of child abuse. The juvenile female victim told officers she ran away on December 9, 2024, after Diane Selene Gresham, listed on the police report as her adoptive sister, beat her and forced her outside in the “freezing” cold with no jacket.
At the sheriff’s office, the officers and DFCS workers noted multiple bumps, marks, and “superficial injuries to her head, neck, and hands.” Before beginning the interview, a DFCS employee advised that the victim had “a mental disability” but no official diagnosis.
The juvenile explained that all her injuries were caused by Gresham, who enforced “strict rules” in the household, in which she would physically assault her if she broke them. She said she “got hit in the head” and suffered “bumps to her head.”
She recollected using an ice pack to help with the pain and swelling on more than one occasion. She said Gresham grabbed her by the hair and “slammed her head against the wall and floor” one time when “she was angry.”
The suspect dragged her out of the bedroom and ordered her outside in only a short-sleeve shirt. She grabbed shoes that were outside and ran away, stopping at several houses before finding help.
She said a woman offered her a sweater, soda, and chips and allowed her to “warm up.” Then, she traveled to another house where she slept, and the following day, she ate two hot dogs and drank a soda.
When the individuals saw the juvenile on the news, they called the police.
The victim added that Gresham had also struck her clavicle and right foot with a red-handled hammer. She said Gresham told her to stay outside all night.
Other incidents included being beaten with a wooden bat until it broke, a spray can, a hair brush, a hanger, a broom, and a flashlight. She remembered the bat hitting between her shoulder blades, and “it hurt for like a week.”
Gresham was arrested and charged with cruelty to children in the first degree and booked into jail.
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 December 11, 2024]
On Wednesday, December 11th, 2024. I, Investigator Baughman was informed by Burke County Department of Family and Children Services to attend a meeting at the Child Enrichment Center (2300 Walden Drive, Augusta, GA.) in reference to an alleged case of child abuse on [REDACTED BY AGENCY] Walker. There were no prior reports made by Burke County DFCS regarding the case, and DFCS stated they got involved when a missing juvenile report was made with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office (Case 1/202469031). According to DFCS, on December 9th, 2024, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] ran away from the residence [REDACTED BY AGENCY] where she was staying with her adoptive sister (Diane Gresham).
Approximately several hours later, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was found by BCSO and taken back to the Sheriff’s Office where then DFCS was called. According to DFCS, after arriving to meet with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] they observed multiple superficial injuries to her head, neck, and hands. DFCS also observed two “knots” on her head, one by her left eye, and one on the right side of her forehead. Per DFCS, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated all of the injuries came from Diane. A forensic interview was then scheduled with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Child Enrichment Center. DFCS advised before the interview that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has a mental disability, but to their knowledge, there has been no diagnosis.
During the interview with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the Child Enrichment Center, she stated that Diane has “strict rules” in the home. She stated that if you followed the rules “nothing happened”, but if you didn’t follow the rules she would “get angry and shout.” She also stated that one time for not following the rules she “got hit in the head.” and that it caused “bumps to her head.” [REDACTED BY AGENCY] advised that she had to put an ice pack on her head and that it happened “more than one time.” [REDACTED BY AGENCY] also talked about a time Diane grabbed her by the hair and “slammed her head against the wall and floor” stating that “she was angry.” [REDACTED BY AGENCY] mentioned another time Diane hit her in the head because she “did something wrong.” She stated Diane grabbed and dragged her out of the bedroom, then told her to go outside without a coat on. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that’s when she grabbed her shoes and then started to run away. She mentioned running past Walmart and running through an open field. She said she was only in short sleeves and “it was freezing.”
She stated she saw a house with a bunch of Christmas lights so she went up to the house to see if anyone was home, but nobody was. She stated she went to a couple more houses checking to see if anyone was home to give her a coat. She stated that she found a woman by the name of “Ms [WITNESS #1]” who gave her “a sweater, chips, and soda” but stated [WITNESS #1] said she could not offer more because it was not her house, but allowed her to “warm up.” She then stated that [WITNESS #1] and her friend took her to “his house” and allowed her to sleep. Then the next morning gave her two hotdogs and a soda, they noticed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was on the news so they took her to the store and called the police. She stated [WITNESS #1] gave her a bag and her number and said “I can call her anytime and she was glad she met me.”
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that’s when she went to the “police office” and they questioned her and then took her to school after. She then talked more about Diane “shouting” and “jacked her out” of the room and stated it “is the first room by the living room.” She stated Diane dragged her by the head and hair and hit her head against the wall. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] answered that she “didn’t do nothing” when asked if she did anything while being dragged. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] made a motion towards her neck and hair when describing that Diane dragged her and hit her. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she hit her head “on the hallway and in the kitchen.” [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Diane then got a “hammer with a red handle” and hit her in the shoulder (pointing towards her front clavicle) and said Diane got the hammer from the kitchen. She advised that Diane didn’t hit her hard enough to “cause a lot of damage” but it’s “sore right now,”
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that after Diane hit her with the hammer, she told her to sit outside without a coat and stay outside all night. She stated she sat there for about 30 minutes, then grabbed shoes that were already outside, “took them, and ran.” She also stated that Diane hit her with a hammer another time before in her right foot, big toe. She stated, “It’s good now, it doesn’t hurt anymore,” When asked if she ever had any other marks or bruises on her body, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] answered “I don’t know exactly what a bruise looks like” and “I don’t know what that is.” She then on went to state that in the past she’s been hit with a hairbrush, flashlight, a wooden bat, and a spray can by Diane. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated the bat was “last year during spring break so I don’t remember much, but she hit me in the back between my shoulder blades. I remember it hurt for like a week, but that’s about all I remember.” She stated the wooden bat is not there anymore because “one time she hit me with it, and it broke.”
She then mentions she’s been hit with a broom and a hanger before. She states that she does not feel safe in the house with Diane. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is then asked to draw a picture of the hammer that she was hit with by Diane. After approximately 47 minutes, the interview is concluded. Child Enrichment Center provided a copy of the interview on a disc, a property sheet was then signed, and taken back to the Waynesboro Police Department and placed in the case file.
On December 12th, based on the evidence during the interview, I then issued a warrant for Diane Gresham for Cruelty to Children 1st Degree. (O.C.G.A 16-5-70).
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on December 12, 2024]
On Thursday December 12, 2024 approximately 1420hours I, Officer Hoffman, responded to 628 Myrick St in reference to transporting one to BCDC jail.
Upon arrival I handcuffed Diane Gresham (Offender/Arrested) to the rear, searched her, and placed her in the bac of my presearched patrol vehicle. I then transported Gresham to BCDC and turned her over to them.
[End of Narrative]
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