Two Dalton women arrest for child cruelty

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — Dalton Police have arrested two women for allegedly beating their teenage daughter and sister.

A 14-year-old Dalton Middle School student confessed to a counselor that she was hurting herself and planning to commit suicide because of her family’s reaction to her relationship with her boyfriend.

That led to the arrests of her mother and older sister.

On October 22, a Dalton Middle School counselor alerted the police resource officer about a 14-year-old student planning to kill herself after an incident with her boyfriend and family.

“Probable cause existed that these two individuals had abused this young woman, apparently beating her with an extension cord, left marks, and it was obviously very violent abuse,” said Bruce Frazier, public relations specialist with the Dalton Police Department.

According to the police report, the student told her counselor that her mother and sister beat her with a belt and electrical cord.

Police say the student has marks that appear to match that story.

After an investigation, Dalton Police arrested the mother Daysi Zablah and older sister Miriam, each for counts of battery and cruelty to children.

“I think a lot of times when they hear somebody being arrested for child cruelty they think ‘We can’t spank our child,'” Frazier said. “Obviously, there’s a difference between a spanking and physical abuse. And it’s one of those things where people will say, ‘Well, where’s the line drawn?’ Well, if you’re in doubt, then don’t do it.”

The director of Whitfield DFCS Danny Nuckolls says about 1/3 of child abuse cases in the county are reported by the school system.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry, and to let people, or authorities, know about something so they can check it out and guarantee the welfare of a child,” Frazier said.

Both the mother and sister posted the $2,000 bond each. Frazier says reach out to your local police department if you ever sense something could be abuse.