ATLANTA — Newly obtained warrants allege severe child abuse and neglect contributed to the death of a 4-year-old in Atlanta last month.
Rodney McWeay was arrested and charged with murder after his daughter, Treasure McWeay, was found dead in a home on Renfrew Court SW in the Baker Hills neighborhood nearly two weeks prior.
According to warrants from the Atlanta Police Department (APD), homicide detectives responded to Hughes Spalding Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on Dec. 11, where Treasure was pronounced dead. Detectives noted she was extremely underweight, and her face was sunken in around her eyes and cheekbones.
A subsequent autopsy showed that Treasure was extremely malnourished and dehydrated at the time of her death. Records show that she weighed just 25 pounds and had only 5ml of liquid in her stomach.
While at the hospital, her father was interviewed by homicide detectives. The warrant states McWeay told detectives, “his kids are not allowed outside and stay in their rooms unless he allows them out. If his kids need something, he will take it to them. Mr. McWeay stated his kids have toys to play with in their rooms.”
Due to her condition, homicide detectives secured a search warrant for the Renfrew Court home.
Detectives said the only food they found in the home was “expired eggs and expired milk," warrants show. The kids' rooms were also searched and no clothing was found for any of the three children who lived in the apartment. Documents show that cameras were found all throughout the house, with some facing the beds.
APD did not release information on any of the other children's conditions.
McWeay faces several charges, including murder, first degree child cruelty, second degree child cruelty, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. He remains at the Fulton County jail.