1-year-old dies as other kids in Atlanta home detail horrific conditions including eating ants and cockroaches

A 1-year-old child who had eaten ants and cockroaches was found dead in a Georgia home where five other children had been left alone by their mother in squalid conditions, say police.Investigators reported that six children, ranging in age from 1 to 10, had been unsupervised in the home for around 12 hours without food. The eldest child reportedly told officers that the toddler had been eating insects before his death.Authorities say the 10-year-old was left to supervise the younger siblings, who were aged 2, 4, 6 and 8. Sherry Magby, 37, has been charged with six counts of second-degree child cruelty. Authorities suggest additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. According to ABC affiliate WSB-TV, police were called to the residence on James D. Simpson Avenue in late March regarding a report of cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of a 1-year-old boy.Responding officers reported a foul odor at the home and found a 10-year-old child attempting to care for five younger siblings. The eldest child told police the toddler had been eating insects before he died (Getty/iStock)The responding officers noted a “foul odor” and described the interior of the home as being in total disarray.The incident has shaken the neighborhood, as the home is located near several local support services. Ken Howell, who runs a community outreach center, steps away from the house, said he was shocked the family had not asked for help.“I just don't understand how that could be that close and knowing we’re right here,” Howell told WSB-TV. The center is dedicated to uplifting the neighborhood and providing food to those in need, he said. Neighbors expressed similar concerns, stating they frequently saw the children playing outside but rarely saw their mother.Magby is currently being held without bond. Court records indicate this is not her first encounter with the legal system regarding the safety of her children. She was already out on bond for a 2023 incident in which she was accused of stabbing one of her children in the back with a pocketknife. She is scheduled to stand trial for that case next month.The Douglas County Coroner’s office has confirmed the toddler's death, though a specific cause of death has not yet been released.