Thirty-two-year-old Bobbie Jessica Prather was arrested shortly after the body of her 3-year-old son was discovered in a private pool at their home on Canter Lane Sunday. Prather was charged with Felony Murder and four counts of Cruelty to Children in the first degree. Her three other children were taken into protective custody. According to the warrants, the 3-year-old, a 4-year-old, and 1-year-old twins were left unsupervised for more than 14 hours. The children were reportedly deprived of food, security, and safety.
According to Sgt. Jonathan Rogers with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, two other adults were in the home when the drowning occurred. A neighbor called 911 for help. The father of the children, Douglas Settles was picked up by Bartow Sheriff’s Deputies Tuesday for Cherokee County on unrelated charges. Rogers says Settles is in the Bartow County Jail but he does not face murder or cruelty to children charges.
During the hearing, Prather told the judge that she did not understand the charges. Judge Bryson said he could not set bond for her due to the severity of the charges. The case was bound over to Bartow Superior Court. Prather did not have legal council Tuesday, officials says this is not unusual during the first appearance. Bryson advised her to get an attorney.