OAKWOOD, GA – Authorities have charged a Hall County mother with child cruelty after her 14-year-old son was found weighing only 49 pounds. The discovery was made at the Peaks of Oakwood complex, home to Hashaba Yehuda and her son.
The police were called on July 25 by a concerned doctor from a gastroenterologist’s office, who had conducted tests showing the boy’s dire condition. Despite repeated attempts to contact Yehuda, she allegedly did not respond to calls.
Paramedics transported the boy to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he is now in stable condition. Residents expressed surprise and concern, noting the community’s tendency to remain private. “I’m just very shocked. I did not know,” one neighbor admitted.
Yehuda reportedly told police she was managing her son’s iron levels and preferred to take him to a Gainesville hospital, unaware of the immediate need for intervention. “If I knew I had to take him, I would have,” she reportedly said.
DM Willis, a neighbor unfamiliar with the family, expressed sorrow that the community failed to offer support. “It’s very unfortunate and sad to hear that a 14-year-old was surrounded by the village, and yet the village did not warm this kid,” he stated.
The situation has prompted discussions about the role of community awareness and intervention in child welfare cases.
As the case unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and proactive engagement within communities to protect vulnerable individuals.
The incident has left the community grappling with the need for change and greater awareness in safeguarding children.