Charges have been upgraded against a woman arrested after a toddler was found dead, the Canton Police Department said Friday.

Around 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, officers were sent to an apartment complex on Hearthstone Landing Drive after a tip from someone who walked into the police department, according to Sgt. Tiffanie Cromer.

“Officers then responded to 3124 Hearthstone Landing Drive, where they located the body of a deceased female toddler in the residence,” Cromer said in a statement.

The child’s body was released to the GBI Crime Lab for identification and to determine the cause of death, according to police.

A 40-year-old woman, Phillissa Diallo, was arrested and charged with concealing the death of another and second-degree child cruelty, police said. On Friday, Diallo was also charged with second-degree murder. Her relationship to the child was not released.

Diallo was being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Canton police at 770-720-4883.

About the Author

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo