Three face Troup County judge on charges of cruelty to children, animals

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 19, 2016

HPS: ‘Deplorable conditions’ in home

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

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LaGRANGE — Two members of the same family and a man who lived with them made their first appearance Thursday in Troup County Magistrate Court.

Janise Fisher, 52, Jessica Nicole Fisher, 21, and Raymond Brian Hayes, 24, were arrested Feb. 3 by Hogansville police after investigators served search warrants at their home in the 100 block of Greenough Street.

Janise Fisher was charged with cruelty to children in the first degree under the Family Violence Act, cruelty to children in the second degree, and two counts of deprivation of a child.

Jessica Fisher was charged with cruelty to children in the first degree, two counts of cruelty to children in the second degree and four counts of deprivation of a child.

Hayes was charged with cruelty to children in the first degree under the Family Violence Act, cruelty to children in the second degree and two counts of deprivation of a child.

In addition, all three were charged with four counts of cruelty to animals.

According to investigators with the Hogansville Police Department, while they were arresting Janise and Jessica Fisher and Hayes, they discovered 28 animals living inside the residence.

The animals removed from the home were 14 chihuahuas, two German shepherd, four snakes, two ferrets, a tortoise, a turtle, a bird plus three other pets, stated HPD investigators.

Law enforcement officials told the court three of the adult dogs died and one dog gave birth to six puppies, of which only two survived.

The investigator stated the veterinarian told them the dog that gave birth was “too old to be having puppies.”

There was also only one male dog inside the home, the investigator added.

According to Hogansville detectives, the conditions inside the residence were deplorable and made one child break out in a rash.

All three attornies for the defendants argued that the charges against their clients were too harsh and should be dropped or taken down to a lesser charge.

Presiding Troup County Magistrate Court Judge Vickie Sue McWaters disagreed.

“The children are suffering being in the types of conditions they were living in,” she firmly stated, looking at all three of the defendants. “The little girl had a rash so bad … it was actually a fungus growing on her skin and she was all swollen up.

“I looked at the pictures of the child,” McWaters continued. “She was so swollen, I wasn’t sure at first if I was looking at a little girl or a little boy.”

The judge also said she was horrified when she learned of a “veiled layer of dog feces” that covered the inside of the home where the children lived in Hogansville.

McWaters stated both children had methamphetamine — from a second source — in their systems.

The judge bound all three defendants over to Troup County Superior Court.

She also stated Hayes was out on bond for a burglary charge and had violated his probation.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.