Teacher finds cigarette burn on 5-year-old’s back, Georgia cops say. Mom charged
A Georgia mother accused of pressing a lit cigarette into her son’s back as punishment is in jail, deputies say.
The 32-year-old woman was arrested April 4 and charged with first-degree child cruelty, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said in a case report obtained by McClatchy News.
The charge comes after deputies said the woman’s 5-year-old child complained of back pain to his teacher and lifted his shirt, revealing “a circular wound” that looked to be recent.
McClatchy News isn’t naming the woman to protect her son’s identity.
Authorities were called April 3 to Richmond Hill Elementary School in Augusta regarding a report of child abuse, the report says.
They were met by the school’s principal and a school resource officer who advised that a report had also been made to the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), based on statements given by the child’s teacher.
The teacher told deputies the boy complained that his back was hurting because he had been burned. He went on to say his mom burned him with a lit cigarette “as punishment for his bad behavior,” the teacher told deputies.
It’s not the first time the woman has been accused of burning her child, authorities said.
The teacher told deputies a previous report had been filed with DFCS after the boy told her that his mom put a lit cigarette to his left temple, according to the report.
Authorities said there was “a visible circular scar” on the boy’s temple that was similar to the end of a cigarette.
Deputies arrested the child’s mother at her home, the report says.
She remained in custody at the Richmond County Jail as of April 8, online records show.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Teacher finds cigarette burn on 5-year-old’s back, Georgia cops say. Mom charged."