A Georgia woman is facing felony charges after authorities allege she gave a toddler a marijuana joint.
Brooke Morgan Bestpitch, 24, is facing charges after an investigation allegedly showed abuse of a toddler in her care, according to Fox 5 Atlanta, WSBTV and the Gainesville Times, who cited authorities in Hall County.
Bestpitch was first investigated by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and then turned over to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 18, 2024, according to the outlets.
Initial investigations alleged that Bestpitch gave the toddler a marijuana joint and allowed him to smoke it. She was arrested on Feb. 6 and charged with reckless conduct, according to local outlets.
She was then taken to a local jail and released the next day on a $1,300 bond, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
Investigators said they then obtained search warrants for Bestpitch’s cell phones and Snapchat account where they found graphic videos and photos allegedly showing the toddler hogtied with belts and yarn, according to the outlet, which cited the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
In one video, the child had a dog leash around his neck and Bestpitch was seen allegedly pulling the leash, constraining the toddler’s neck, authorities told the local outlet.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Based on the new evidence, investigators issued an arrest warrant for Bestpitch on a felony first-degree child cruelty charge, according to the outlet. She was taken into custody on April 11 and released the following day on a $11,200 bond.
It is still unknown what the relationship is between Bestpitch and the toddler, or whether the child suffered any injuries, per the outlet.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Read the full article here