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Written by: A. Smith
Published October 3, 2025 @ 8:49 AM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A candidate for East Point City Council is facing criminal charges just weeks before voters head to the polls.
Marie Terry, who is running for City Council, has been arrested and charged with three counts of child cruelty. The allegations stem from her role as a foster parent to three children, ages 13 to 17.
According to arrest warrants, Terry is accused of hitting the teens with a skillet, a wooden grill scraper, and a plastic bat when they “needed to be disciplined.”
The warrants also claim Terry forced the children to eat cat feces from a litter box and made threats to harm them if they didn’t comply. In addition, investigators say she made the teens sleep on the basement floor without bedding and would sometimes lock them in a closet without a light.
Former East Point Mayor Earnestine Pittman defended Terry and claimed the children were lying after Terry attempted to relinquish guardianship.
Marcia M. Guinyard, attorney for Marie Terry, released a statement saying:
“In response to recent media reports, Ms. Terry has been accused of three counts of cruelty to children. These allegations are entirely false. On Sunday, Ms. Terry voluntarily turned herself in to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and was promptly released on bond. At no time was she ever in the custody of the East Point Police Department, despite statements to the contrary.
As this matter remains the subject of an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on the specific facts of the case at this time. What is important for the public to know is that Ms. Terry is a long-standing, respected member of the community. She has dedicated much of her life to serving others—particularly children—through her outreach programs and community initiatives. Ms. Terry remains steadfast in her commitment to her community and will continue her service as she addresses and fights these false allegations. We respectfully ask the public and media to withhold judgment until all of the facts are known and the truth is revealed.”
Terry voluntarily turned herself in to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department on Sunday and was released on a $15,000 bond, according to her attorney.