Police: 11-year-old asked neighbor for food while mom out 'clubbing'

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County woman remains jailed nearly a week after her 11-year-old daughter was asking neighbors for food while she was out “clubbing.”

According to police documents obtained by Channel 2’s Ross Cavitt, Deborah Ann Oats is charged with second-degree child cruelty in connection with the incident.

Marietta police said they were called to Oats’ Bells Ferry Road apartment Sunday morning. Once inside, officers found the girl had been living in deplorable conditions.

"She noticed the apartment was a wreck. There was trash everywhere and dog poop on the floor. It was a huge mess,' neighbor James Fisher said.

Police were called by Fisher and his wife, who looked after Oats’ 11-year-old daughter for several hours.

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He told Cavitt that the girl knocked on doors Saturday night and asked for food.

"She was a little bit lonely. She came and played with the kitties and we gave her spaghetti," Fisher said.

Police said they later found Oats, who admitted she'd been hanging with friends in a known drug neighborhood.

Authorities say the 11-year-old was placed into custody of the state Division of Family and Children Services.

Cox Media Group