BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — A Bartow County woman, who was charged with murder after her toddler drowned, faced a judge for the first time on Wednesday.
Prosecutors said Bobbie Prather, 32, left the 3-year-old unsupervised for more than 14 hours.
Investigators found the 3-year-old drowned on Monday after responding to a call for help on Carter Lane in Cartersville.
They also found three other children at the home, a 4-year-old and twin 1-year-olds. The children are now in protective custody.
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Prather is charged with felony child cruelty. Because the child died in the above-ground pool, prosecutors charged her with murder.
The first appearance at the Bartow County Jail lasted only about 15 minutes, and Channel 2's Sophia
Choi said most of that time was spent with the judge reading the chargesafter Prather said she did not understand them.
“Miss Prather, you've been charged with (causing) the death of another,” Judge Brandon Bryson said.
Some of Prather's family members were in court on Wednesday, but they left quickly without making any statements.
The children's father wasn't in court either. Deputies say he's behind bars in another county for unrelated charges."
“So he's not charged with child cruelty?” Choi asked. “Not at this time, but there could be other charges on him. Like I said, still an active case,” Sgt. Jonathan Rogers said.
The judge set no bond for Prather, saying this case needed to go to Superior Court next.