Police say Georgia mom forced son to kill hamster [View All]

[Ghost in the Machine]

Police say Georgia mom forced son to kill hamster

Associated Press - January 21, 2010 10:14 PM ET

WARM SRPINGS, Ga. (AP) - Police have arrested a Georgia woman who they say forced her son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for earning a bad grade.

Meriwether County sheriff Steve Whitlock told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday that the 12-year-old boy told his teacher about the killing. The teacher reported it to the Division of Family and Child Services, who contacted police.

The pet's death allegedly took place at the family's Warm Springs home.

Whitlock said 38-year-old Lynn Middlebrooks Geter faces one charge each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery.

He said she was arrested Friday and remained in the Meriwether County jail Thursday evening. It was not immediately known if she had a lawyer.

http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11862388