Update:
Police officials provided additional details this evening about the deaths of three children and a mother who is behind bars on murder charges.
In a release provided to Paulding Today, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, they have confirmed that only three children have died as a result of injuries sustained during an incident on Friday, June 24.
Darlene Brister, 40, of 776 Woodwind Drive, Rockmart (west Paulding,) remained in custody without bond on the pair of malice murder charges. She was being held at the Paulding County Jail following her arrest on the scene on Friday night.
The latest release from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office also provided additional details about the juveniles involved, and some information about the incident.
“Seven juveniles were located inside the home,” the release stated. “Two juveniles were pronounced deceased on scene: a 3 year old with multiple apparent stab wounds and a 9 month old.”
Three additional children – ages 5, 9 and 11, were transported to local hospitals with injuries, where officials noted the 5 year old later succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident.
Per the release, it was noted that the 9-year-old who was previously reported as deceased in some media outlets is alive, and remains in critical but stable condition.
Two of the youth – a 14-year-old and 16-year-old – appeared to be unharmed in the incident.
“As the investigation continues additional charges are imminent, but no additional charges have yet been filed,” the release also noted.
Check back for additional details as the story develops.
Here’s the full release:
Previously posted:
The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office along with state officials are continuing to investigate after three juveniles died, two were injured and a fire was reported at a Woodwind Drive address late Friday night.
Per a release from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, officials have charged Darlene Nicole Brister, 40, of 776 Woodwind Drive, Rockmart (on the Paulding County side) on two counts of felony malice murder after she was taken into custody by deputies at the scene at 9:30 p.m.
Additional charges are expected after two juveniles were found dead at the scene, a third died in the hospital and two more were injured out of seven in total at the home – which was on fire when emergency personnel arrived.
The fire was extinguished, and officials reported that Brister was located on the property and taken into custody during the incident.
Brister remains in jail without bond. Officials are not releasing the name of the juveniles who were hurt in the incident.
Here’ the full release from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office:
At approximately 9:19pm on June 24th, 2022, Paulding E-911 received a call about a domestic disturbance and house fire at 776 Woodwind Dr., Rockmart, GA 30153. It was reported that a female who was inside the home was attempting to stab the occupants and that at the time of the call, the home was on fire and the occupants were inside.
Paulding County Deputies and Firefighters arrived on scene quickly and entered the home to rescue the occupants. The fire was eventually extinguished and Paulding County Detectives, Paulding County Fire Investigators, Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) Agents, and State Fire Marshal’s Investigators diligently went to work to make sense of the chaotic scene.
Seven juveniles were located inside the home, two of which were pronounced deceased on scene. Three additional juveniles were taken to local hospitals and the remaining two juveniles did not appear to have injuries. One of the children taken to the hospital has since succumbed to injuries and is deceased.
A female, later identified as Darlene Brister, B/F, 40, was located on the property and taken into custody. Brister was subsequently transported to the Paulding County Detention Center where she is currently charged with two counts of Malice Murder (F) O.C.G.A. 16-5-1(a) and is being held with no bond. As the investigation continues, additional charges are likely. Since the victims involved are juveniles, their personal and identifying information will not be released at this time.
If you have any information about this case, please feel encouraged to contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Tip Line at (770)443-3047 or via the Paulding County Sheriff mobile app.
