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Name:
Mantooth, Jessica Marie
Date of Booking:
03/13/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-DEPRIVATION OF NECESSARY SUSTENANCE – 1ST DEGREE
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 3/13/2025, I responded, along with building inspector Charles Price, to the address of [100 BLOCK] Smith Rd in reference a concern from Coosa school social worker, [WITNESS #1]. The concern was for the living condition within the residence as a 6 year old child, [VICTIM #1] lives inside. [VICTIM #1] lives with her parents, Christopher and Jessica Mantooth and 18yr old brother [WITNESS #2]. According to the school, [VICTIM #1] gets sick often with worms and head lice. [WITNESS #1] was also concerned about the family not having enough food in the home and was present at the home when we arrived. [WITNESS #1] provided a box of different foods and other snacks, placed it on the porch and left.
I was able to make contact with C. Mantooth first and explained the reason for my visit. I advised there was concern from the school that the home might not be a healthy place for [VICTIM #1] since she’s been out of school several times for the head lice and worms. I requested he allow me to walk through the home to make an assessment. C. Mantooth went inside to get his wife J. Mantooth for me to explain the situation. Price also spoke with them about the condition of the home in regards to stability, maintenance and safety. The parents advised me that DFCS had come out about a month earlier but nothing else happened. I advised I have nothing to do with DFCS at this time and am not acting on their behalf. The parent allowed me to come inside after telling me that it was a mess.
Upon entry to the home, I could see a fireplace directly in front of me, the kitchen to the left and living room to the right. The floors were unstable in areas all through the house as they were in the kitchen. The floors were grimy, there were full, open and overflowing trash bags on the floor drawing gnats and roaches, grocery bags of trash hanging from cabinet pulls with trash inside, trash on the floor, dirty and grimy counter tops completely covered with opened and closed boxes of food, insect spray, cleaning bottles covered in an unknown brown substance and other food and debris, unsure how old. The stove had dirty pans with old food residue on them. To the left of the stove was a cart with food and dirty dishes on it and trash underneath. The floors were almost black in this area, with pieces of the par-kay flooring broken up and detached from the sub-floor appearing that it is due to mold and grimy substances. There was an overflowing trash can in the corner between the food cart and the cabinets, which had some sort of dirty brown substance dripping and smeared on it.
In the floor next to the trash can was a crock pot almost completely filled with something unknown to it’s original state. It would appear that there may have been a meal that had been cooked in it at some point in the past and left on the floor; It appeared to have a thick layer of mold and other things growing in it and on it. The walls within the kitchen and hallway leading to a bathroom, bedroom and outside door had a brown substance covering it as well. The first room on the right, just outside the kitchen was the bathroom that I had been advised has been out of order for the entire time the family has lived there, which I was told was five years. C. Mantooth advised me that he has told his adult son, [WITNESS #2], not o use it, but he thinks he still does on occasion. I opened the door and was greeted with strong odor of feces. The vanity sink was dark brown, but from the looks of it, I wasn’t sure if it was naturally brown or from something else.
The bathroom is allegedly unused, but there were toothbrushes, dental picks, a bottle of mousse, a hairbrush, comb an electric hair tool on the sink, all of which appeared to be used recently. Again, the walls and cabinets were the same as in the kitchen and remainder of the home. The floors were dirty and there was a broken cabinet door exposing a hole in the structure of the house so that you could see outside into the front yard. The tub/shower was dirty as well. The toilet bowl was filled with feces that appeared it had been there long enough to take on a different consistency. The whole inside of the bowl was covered completely with dried on feces, the toilet seat was covered in a brown substance I can only imagine is dirt and feces. There was a small trash can next to the toilet full of what appeared to be old and recently used toilet paper.
[WITNESS #2] (teenager) has his own room, which I observed to be quite clean and tidy. The parents share a bedroom with [VICTIM #1], however [VICTIM #1] does have her own bed. Their bedroom contained numerous full and overflowing, trash filled bags in multiple areas of the room. There was trash and debris all over the floor and underneath [VICTIM #1]’s bed. There were hand fulls of old dip cans laying around, on the floor and on furniture along with full spit cups. [VICTIM #1] was present and asleep when we arrived, but woke up soon after. I requested, via radio, for Pfc. Shelly to assist me at this residence. I stepped outside to contact DFCS and notify them of the conditions and that the parents would be going to jail for Cruelty to Children. During my conversations with the parents, they could never really provide a valid reason why they allowed their family to live in these conditions and had a nonchalant demeanor about the situation.
I was able to talk via phone with the teenage son, who was en route to school, in regards to the situation. He advised me that he’s tired of living in the conditions and is about to move out, but didn’t want his sister to be left there. I asked if the conditions were always like that, he said. I asked were there times over the years that it would get cleaned and would he ever help them, he advised me yes, but then it would go back to the way it is. I advised that there’s no lack of food in the home so it appears there is no issue with getting fed, he said yes, but his parents would wait until 10pm to even start cooking and then just leave it. I asked him if either parent has any depression going on or other issues that might lead to them living like this, to which he responded with no.
DFCS sent their caseworker who contact C. Mantooth’s grandmother, [REDACTED] to take [VICTIM #1] per safety plan. As soon as DFCS arrived, I explained to the parents that they would be going to jail and [VICTIM #1] would be staying with [REDACTED] for the time being. DFCS explained their part in this process. I waited until the child and great-grandmother left then Pfc. Shelly and I placed both parents in handcuffs. I completed a pat down of J. Mantooth and placed her in the backseat of Pfc. Shelly’s patrol vehicle for transport.
[End of Narrative]
The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
There is a listed co-defendant in this case. Please see Christopher Mantooth for additional information.
02/13/26
GRAND JURY INDICTMENT FILED
What this means: A Floyd County grand jury formally indicted Jessica Marie Mantooth and Christopher James Mantooth on charges of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree and Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree in case 26CR00272B-3. The indictment alleges that on or about March 13, 2025, Jessica Marie Mantooth caused cruel and excessive mental pain to a child under 18 by failing to provide a safe and healthy environment. The charges stem from allegations that the child was forced to live in a filthy home with garbage bags, moldy food, insect infestation, a non-working toilet filled with feces, and repeated problems with worms and lice. District Attorney Leigh E. Patterson signed the indictment, and the case was assigned to Judge Bryan Thomas Johnson.
02/13/26
PROPERTY BOND SET FOR JESSICA MARIE MANTOOTH
What this means: Jessica Marie Mantooth posted a $7,900 property bond secured by real estate. The bond allows Jessica Marie Mantooth to be released from custody while her case is pending. The bond was approved by Sheriff’s Office personnel, with the understanding that if she fails to appear for court proceedings, the property could be forfeited.
02/14/26
CONDITIONAL BOND RELEASE ORDERED
What this means: Floyd County Magistrate Judge Lorie Hughes issued a conditional bond release order for Jessica Marie Mantooth in case 132050. The conditions require her to stay away from the alleged victim, except for supervised contact through the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Jessica Marie Mantooth must also comply with any DFCS safety plan and cannot move Alyssa Mantooth without court approval. If she violates these conditions, her bond can be revoked.
02/24/26
ARRAIGNMENT NOTICE ISSUED
What this means: The Floyd County Superior Court issued a formal notice commanding Jessica Marie Mantooth to appear for arraignment on March 20, 2026, at 10:30 AM in Courtroom D. At the arraignment, she will be formally read the charges against her and asked to enter a plea. The notice warns that if she fails to appear, an arrest warrant will be issued.
03/20/26
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED
What this means: Jessica Marie Mantooth is scheduled to appear before Judge Bryan Thomas Johnson in Floyd County Superior Court at 9:00 AM for her arraignment hearing. This is when she will formally hear the charges against her and enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Her attorney will likely be present to represent her during this proceeding.
03/30/26
ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE FOR JESSICA MARIE MANTOOTH
What this means: An attorney has officially filed a notice with the Floyd County Superior Court to represent Jessica Marie Mantooth in case 26CR00272B. This formal document notifies the court and prosecution that Jessica Marie Mantooth now has legal counsel who will handle all communications and proceedings on her behalf.
03/30/26
DEFENSE REQUESTS DISCOVERY FROM PROSECUTION
What this means: Jessica Marie Mantooth’s attorney filed a formal request for discovery in Floyd County Superior Court case 26CR00272B. This means her legal team is asking the prosecution to share all evidence they plan to use against her, including police reports, witness statements, photographs, and any other materials related to the cruelty to children charges. The prosecution is required to provide this information so the defense can properly prepare their case.
06/10/26
JURY TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR CALENDAR CALL
What this means: Jessica Marie Mantooth’s case in Floyd County Superior Court has been scheduled for a calendar call at 1:30 PM on June 10, 2026. During calendar call, the judge will review the case status with both attorneys to confirm whether they are ready to proceed to jury trial. This is typically when a trial date is set or when plea negotiations are finalized.
06/10/26
FINAL DISPOSITION — JESSICA MARIE MANTOOTH PLEADS GUILTY TO LESSER CHARGE, COUNT 1 DISMISSED
What this means: Jessica Marie Mantooth’s case reached a final disposition in Floyd County Superior Court on June 10, 2026, under case 26CR00272B-3. Through a negotiated plea agreement, the original Count 1 charge of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree was dismissed via nolle prosequi — meaning the prosecution chose not to move forward with that charge.
On Count 2, Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, Jessica Marie Mantooth pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense of Reckless Conduct under O.C.G.A. 16-5-60(b). The court sentenced her to 12 months to be served on probation. No confinement time was ordered.