Augusta mother jailed after unattended son sets himself on fire

An Augusta mother faces a child cruelty charge after her unattended 11-year-old son set himself on fire Wednesday, the Augusta Chronicle reported.

Authorities told the newspaper the child was home with his 3-year-old sister when he put rubbing alcohol on himself and lit it in their apartment. Police said the child was attempting to perform the “Fire Challenge,” a viral social media stunt in which participants record themselves pouring flammable liquid on their bodies and then igniting it.

Authorities received a call about the fire and the boy was taken to the hospital with first- and second-degree burns to his face and chest, the Chronicle reported. He is expected to survive.

The child’s mother, 29-year-old Mattelyn Parks, was arrested on one count of first-degree cruelty to children, Richmond County jail records show. It’s unclear where she was at the time of the fire. She did not have a bond as of Thursday afternoon.

In other news:

State can do about 50 tests a day for the virus, by next week will be able to do 100 tests a day.

About the Author

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

A Wednesday blaze at South River Art Studios ravaged one of three warehouses on the property where about 35 artists create and store all their supplies.

$980M Mega Millions winning ticket sold in Newnan

The player matched all six numbers during a Friday evening drawing and won a jackpot worth an estimated $980 million. It has an estimated cash value of $452.2 million.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

As the nation begins to recover from the government shutdown, leaders and advocates in Georgia are trying to fill the gaps left by the pause in federal services.

The Latest

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Gridlock Guy: ATL DOT asks to please pardon its progress

10m ago

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

Featured

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.