Georgia Parents Leave 3 Toddlers to Starve in Tent — Boy With Down Syndrome Found Without Oxygen or Food for Days, Police Say
CARROLLTON, GEORGIA — A Georgia couple is behind bars after allegedly abandoning their three toddlers at a campsite — including a 2-year-old boy with Down syndrome who had been deprived of critical oxygen and feeding support necessary for his survival.
46-year-old Jason Askea and 41-year-old Kira Askea were charged with cruelty to children with excessive physical or mental pain following the shocking discovery at Little Tallapoosa Park in Carroll County, about 45 miles west of Atlanta.
Children Found Alone, Covered in Feces
Deputies responded to the 330-acre park on September 16 after a concerned camper spotted three children — ages 2, 4, and 5 — alone in a tent and appearing severely neglected.
According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the children told the witness they hadn’t eaten in two days and were covered in feces when deputies arrived.
The youngest child, who has Down syndrome, was found without his prescribed oxygen and feeding tube, both described by doctors as “essential for brain development and calorie intake.”
“The conditions these children were found in were heartbreaking,” investigators said. “It’s clear they had been left to fend for themselves.”
Medical Neglect and Poor Living Conditions
In addition to malnutrition, the 2-year-old reportedly suffered from a chronic dental infection, and all three children had severe dental decay and poor hygiene.
Court documents indicate that the parents had knowingly removed the child’s medical devices, cutting him off from life-sustaining oxygen and nutrition sources.
Officials said the toddlers were hungry, dirty, and dehydrated when located. Emergency medical teams provided immediate care before transferring them to a hospital for evaluation.
Parents Claimed Homelessness as Excuse
Shortly after deputies arrived, Jason and Kira Askea returned to the campsite, where they were arrested on the spot.
The couple allegedly told officers they had recently lost their home and were living in the tent with their children at the park.
However, investigators said the conditions went far beyond homelessness — describing the situation as criminal neglect that endangered the children’s lives.
Both parents remain held without bond in the Carroll County Jail.
Authorities Condemn ‘Unconscionable Neglect’
Child welfare officials have since taken custody of the three siblings. The sheriff’s office described the case as one of the most disturbing examples of child endangerment they’ve seen in years.
“Leaving any child without food or care is unconscionable,” said one deputy. “But cutting off a medically fragile child’s oxygen supply — that’s cruelty beyond comprehension.”
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could follow once medical evaluations are complete.
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