HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Officials in Hall County are releasing more information about a woman accused of faking her son’s illness and forcing him to use an unnecessary feeding tube and wheelchair, stating that more charges could be coming.
Teresa Lynn Roth, 31, is charged with child abuse after allegedly subjecting her son to unnecessary medical treatments and medications, from Jan. 2016 – Oct. 2018. A Hall County Sheriff’s spokesperson told 11Alive Monday that the boy was on 28 different medications. The boy was forced to use a wheelchair and endure a feeding tube, detectives said.
11Alive’s Joe Henke spoke to Roth on Monday outside her home, which is down a narrow road in north Hall County. Roth bonded out of jail last Friday, one day after her arrest. She refused to be interviewed until she hires an attorney. She said it was her understanding that the boy is “doing fine” and has been placed with a foster care family as the investigation continues.
His parents drew disability benefits on the boy’s behalf, police said Saturday. Authorities caught wind of the abuse last October after Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta contacted the Hall County Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFACS).
"That prompted an investigation with DFACS, who removed the child from the custody of his biological parents," said Lieutenant Scott Ware with the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
The warrant issued for Roth's arrest described her actions as "malicious" and called the pain she caused her son "cruel and excessive."
"As far as motive, I can't say what the motive was," Ware said. "Now, the child is on little or no medications, isn't in a wheelchair and doesn't have a feeding tube and is doing absolutely fine."
Ware said the boy's father also lives in the same home but hasn't been arrested or charged.
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