Mom calling for more security at rest stops after 8-year-old was attacked traveling to Braves game

BIBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia mom is calling for more security at rest stops after she said her 8-year-old was attacked in a restroom.

It happened as the girl’s mom was just feet away.

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The Hester family are Braves season ticket holders and they often make the trek from their home in south Georgia to Truist Park. But a few weeks ago they made a stop along the way.

“My husband and I were just going to switch drivers and run to the restroom,” said Hayley Hester.

It was 3 p.m. at this rest stop on Interstate 475. Hayley Hester and her 8-year-old daughter Ady went into the ladies room while noticing two girls as they walked in.

“Ady and I go into two stalls, one right next to the other, she just happens to get out a few seconds before I do. They pulled her hair, covered and squeezed her face she didn’t scream out for me at the time because I think she just froze,” said Hester.

Hayley said she didn’t know about the first attack when she left her stall and washed her hands. But she said she was leaving the restroom it happened a second time.

“I’m walking in front of Ady at this point on the way to the door and at that time the girls start pulling her hair and covering up her face again, this time she was able to yell out for me,” she said.

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Hayley grabbed her daughter and said she and her husband then called the police. The two girls are just 12 years old and homeless.

Their motive is unclear.

“My first thought is they were trying to kidnap her of course they could just be bullies,” said Hayley.

The girls were both charged with simple battery and released back to their mother. But now Hayley wants more to be done to keep people who stop here safe.

“There’s no security cameras at these rest areas. I think if we could get those security cameras there and get more patrolling of these areas it might help deter crime.”

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