Cops: Girl out of hospital after mom tried to suffocate her

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A 4-year-old girl was released from the hospital Friday afternoon after her mom tried to suffocate her in a patch of kudzu in Lawrenceville, police said.

The state Department of Family and Children Services is now caring for the girl, pending a hearing before a juvenile court judge, Gwinnett County Police spokesman Officer Brian Kelly said Friday

Police charged the girl's mom, 41-year-old Christiana Tetteh, with criminal attempt to commit murder. She is being held without bond in the Gwinnett County jail.

Police said they went to a Tumlin Trace house at 1 a.m. Friday after a woman called 911 saying she thought her 4-year-old daughter was dead. Officers found the girl outside in an area covered by kudzu, police said.

Officers said the child was conscious, but was crying. She was taken to the Gwinnett Medical Center, police said.

Detectives said they believe the child's mother had taken the girl out of the home and tried to suffocate her in the kudzu patch.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive, Kelly said.

Police said the child's father is out of the country.

Staff Reporter Megan Matteucci contributed to this report.