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Council hopeful arrested in foster-kid abuse case
Just weeks before the East Point city council election, a leading candidate, Marie Terry, is now under arrest facing extremely disturbing charges: three counts of child cruelty involving her foster children. Allegations include forcing them to eat cat feces, hitting them with household objects, locking them in closets, and making them sleep on bare floors. As residents reel from the accusations, neighbors say the "fighter for the people" must now fight to clear her name.
EAST POINT, Ga. - A woman running for East Point City Council is facing serious criminal charges just weeks before voters head to the polls.
Marie Terry, a candidate for City Council, has been arrested and charged with three counts of child cruelty. The allegations stem from her role as a foster parent to three children, ages 13 to 17.
East Point City Council candidate accusations
What we know:
Terry’s campaign signs around East Point read "A Fighter for the People," but now she is fighting to clear her name.
According to arrest warrants, Terry is accused of hitting the teens with a skillet, a wooden grill scraper, and a plastic bat when they "needed to be disciplined."
The warrants also claim Terry forced the children to eat cat feces and made threats to harm them if they didn’t comply.
In addition, investigators say she made the teens sleep on the basement floor without bedding and would sometimes lock them in a closet without a light.
FOX 5 visits Terry’s home after she bonds out of jail, but there is no answer at the door.
Marie Terry arrested
What they're saying:
Longtime neighbor Frankie Swain said she was stunned to hear about the charges.
"I can't believe what they're saying that she's accused of doing," Swain said. "She's always feeding, delivering food, cleaning the neighborhood. She has been an upstanding person that I know of for over 30 years."
Swain added that the children always seemed happy.
"The only way, I believe that Marie had to snap or been under some pressure," Swain said.
Swain said she would still stand up for the woman she has known for decades.
"You know, you do anything for me, and I'll do anything to stand up for the character of you that I know," she said.
Terry's response
The other side:
Marcia M. Guinyard, attorney for Marie Terry, released the following:
"In response to recent media reports, Ms. Terry has been accused of three counts of cruelty to children. These allegations are entirely false. On Sunday, Ms. Terry voluntarily turned herself in to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and was promptly released on bond. At no time was she ever in the custody of the East Point Police Department, despite statements to the contrary.
"As this matter remains the subject of an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on the specific facts of the case at this time. What is important for the public to know is that Ms. Terry is a long-standing, respected member of the community. She has dedicated much of her life to serving others—particularly children—through her outreach programs and community initiatives.
"Ms. Terry remains steadfast in her commitment to her community and will continue her service as she addresses and fights these false allegations.
"We respectfully ask the public and media to withhold judgment until all of the facts are known and the truth is revealed."
The Source: The details in this article come from police and court records. FOX 5's Tyler Fingert visited Marie Terry's home and spoke with neighbors.