Teen found dead in friend's back yard

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga.,None — A teen was found dead and his friend’s parents were arrested on unrelated charges at a home in Gainesville.

Fifteen-year-old Trey Spencer was found unresponsive in the back yard of a home on Walnut Cove Court early Monday, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. His friend, 14-year-old Ethan Lancaster, lives at the home, but his parents were out of town at the time.

Lancaster told deputies the friends had been drinking Bourbon, smoking marijuana, huffing dust cleaner and taking klonopin tablets on Sunday evening, deputies said.

Lancaster said he thought Spencer had gone home that night, but the next morning, Spencer was found lying in the yard.

"Laying in the backyard, barely breathing at all. At that point he was transported to Northside Forsyth Hospital where he was pronouncd dead," said said Capt. Tim House.

After the teen alerted his parents, who had just returned from St. Simons Island, sheriff’s investigators arrived and searched the home. Investigators said they found dead animals, feces, bugs, trash and other debris in the home. Robert, 46, and Laura, 52, Lancaster were subsequently charged with cruelty to children.

Friends of Spencer told Channel 2's Tom Regan they couldn't believe what happened.

"You just kinda stop and think, 'Wow. This really could happen to someone,' and it just happened like that," said Bradley Shaw.

"I just freaked out and I didn't believe it and everyone feels the same about it," said Madison Thomas.

Spencer’s death is under investigation and an autopsy is being performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

WSBTV