A partnership between the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and the Habersham County Special Victims Unit Patrol Task Force has taken four children out of an abusive household and delivered them into protective custody, where they are now receiving health attention and mental services after enduring physical and mental neglect, according to the Habersham County Sheriff's Office.
Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Investigator Unit received information March 14 indicating the four children were suffering from “severe neglect.” Two of the older children were then transported to FAITH’s Power House for Kids and were forensically interviewed. The patrol investigator later spoke to the other two children, according to the sheriff’s office.
A patrol investigator working alongside the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators later interviewed the children’s parents, Melinda Woods Cowart, 32, and David Brett Cowart, 35, on March 24.
Information gathered by authorities during the interviews led to the arrest of the couple, who have been charged by police with four counts of second degree cruelty to children and one count of maintain a disorderly house. The two subjects were later booked into the Habersham County Jail and surrendered the 4 and 6-year-old children to DFCS, while the 9 and 10-year-old children were placed with other family members, according to the sheriff’s department. Authorities said the investigation remains open and ongoing at this time.