CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A 74-year-old Ball Ground woman has been indicted by a Cherokee County grand jury for the murder of her 76-year-old disabled husband last April.
The death was initially reported to authorities as an accidental fall at the couple's home in the 3100 block of Ball Ground Road.
According to the indictment, Betty Sue Parton physically abused her husband David Parton over the course of at least nine months before he died in April 2018.
The indictment says that Betty Sue faces 19 charges, including one count each of malice murder, felony murder, exploitation or intimidation of an elderly or disabled person and third-degree cruelty to children, three counts of aggravated assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act, four counts of aggravated battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act, and eight counts of battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act.
According to the documents, on at least seven occasions, Betty Sue slapped, beat and bludgeoned David with her hands and with unknown objects. The indictment says that David suffered from Parkinson's disease and was limited in mobility.
Over the course of the physical abuse, Betty Sue broke David's ribs, left visible bruises on David's arm and face, and broke one of David's fingers.
On one occasion, through repeated blows to the head, Betty Sue caused significant and "seriously disfiguring" injuries to both of David's ears, the indictment said.
The documents indicated that on at least one occasion, the abuse took place in front of a child under the age of 18.
The grand jury indictment said that on April 1, 2018, Betty Sue beat David to death with her hands and an "unknown object and objects to inflict repeated blows to the head, torso and extremities" ... "resulting in multiple blunt force injuries and hemorrhaging."
Betty Sue called deputies to their home, telling them her husband had fallen and struck his head.
A deeper forensic examination found questionable results, which led to further investigation. The state crime lab contacted the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in July to report that the death was suspicious, and that David's death was being ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma.
A search warrant was executed in September, leading to Betty's arrest in October.