Hinesville Police Department detectives have arrested a Hinesville couple following the death of a 6-year-old girl.
HPD Assistant Chief Major Tracey Howard said officers responded to a call on the 600 block of Saunders Avenue in regards to an unresponsive child on May 1.
According to an incident report filed by Officer Wade Coetzee, he met with Shelly Perry at the front door of the apartment and was escorted to a spare bedroom, where her 6-year-old daughter was motionless. The child’s face was blue and mouth and eyes were open, according to the report, and the child did not appear to be breathing.
When firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived, they determined the child was deceased.
According to the report, Perry told the officer the child took a nap around 5 p.m., and Perry said she had checked on her daughter every 30 to 45 minutes. Shortly after 8:30 p.m., she went to feed the child and attempted to wake her up and was unable to do so. Perry then called 911.
When detectives arrived, they had the child’s body taken to the GBI crime lab in Atlanta, where an autopsy was conducted. Authorities have not received the cause of death.
Howard said detectives also are attempting to determine if the child, who appeared undernourished, died at the Saunders Avenue apartment.
Authorities arrested Perry and Brandon Robinson, who have children together, and charged them with concealment of a death, cruelty to child, and false statements on May 2. Both have been denied bond.
Robinson is not related to the 6-year-old in this case.