RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. — What began as an eviction call quickly turned into a criminal investigation that ended with a mother behind bars.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Richmond County deputies were called around 11 a.m. Tuesday to a home on Mike Padgett Highway to assist with an eviction.
When deputies arrived, they found the home’s front door would not open. A woman identified as Tisheika Washington, 33, exited through a back door, while one of her children carried a 5-month-old baby outside.
As deputies tried to enter the home, they immediately noticed deplorable conditions.
According to an incident report, deputies encountered a strong odor coming from the home and found rooms cluttered with large amounts of debris and refuse. Authorities said the conditions were so overwhelming that an initial attempt to move through the home had to be abandoned.
Washington told deputies she had six children living in the home. According to the sheriff’s office, the six children included a 14-year-old, children ages 9, 8 and 7, a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old baby.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Officer reveals why he shot, killed family’s miniature donkey ‘HeeHaw’
- Over 4,000 pounds of khat seized at Atlanta airport
- VIDEO: Fugitive caught after running from US Marshals in Brookhaven
Authorities said one of the children, the 14-year-old, was not in school that day. Property management employees told deputies the child was frequently seen outside during school hours and did not regularly attend school.
The Division of Family and Children Services was notified and responded to the scene. Three of the children later returned home from school while deputies were at the home, and another child was reportedly with a sitter.
Authorities also learned there had been multiple prior reports involving the family. According to the sheriff’s office, records showed at least four child welfare complaints between February and September 2026, in addition to previous calls for service at the home.
A subsequent walkthrough revealed piles of trash and decaying food throughout the home, along with active maggots and insects. Deputies reported there was little clear space to walk, with mattresses, children’s toys and other household items mixed among the debris.
According to the report, a toilet was filled with human waste, bathroom sinks were packed with empty water bottles and several rooms were so cluttered that doors could not fully open or close. Deputies said there were no clear pathways through much of the home.
Following the investigation, Washington was arrested and booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
She was charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to children.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]