COLQUITT COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Two people were arrested after an 8-year-old drowned in a bathtub.

According to the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), emergency personnel responded to the 911 call in the early morning hours of July 8.

The child was first taken to Colquitt Regional Medical Center, then taken to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was pronounced dead.

A full investigation was launched between the sheriff’s office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to investigate the child’s death.

According to CCSO, investigators were in constant contact with the child’s medical team and local prosecutors to obtain and discuss critical information. Interviews were conducted with people close to the child, as well as paramedics, nurses, doctors, the Department of Family and Children Services, and school personnel.

CCSO said that a thorough review of extensive documentation of his history and care led to the following arrests:

• Julie Shaylin Hurst was charged with Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree
• Jessie Dalton Hurst was charged with Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree and Murder in the Second Degree

Both were taken into custody without incident. They are currently being held at the Colquitt County Jail.

“This case has deeply affected everyone involved,” said Sheriff Rod Howell. “We are grateful for the tireless work of our investigators and the GBI. Through careful examination of the facts, interviews, and historical records, we were able to uncover the truth behind this child’s tragic death and take appropriate legal action.”

CCSO said the investigation is ongoing.

WALB will provide more details once they become available.

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