A Cherokee County woman has been charged with child cruelty after police found her four-year-old daughter living in filthy conditions at a Canton apartment.

On Monday night, officers responded to a call from a neighbor concerned about screaming and "sounds similar to someone being thrown up against the wall" at the Northwood Apartments on Marietta Highway, Canton police Det. German Rivas said.

Once inside the apartment of Barbara Jane Miller, the officers were taken to the child's bedroom.

When they opened the bedroom door, "officers were overwhelmed by the smell of stale urine," Rivas said. Once inside the bedroom, "there were soiled diapers on the floor, crusted potato chips and human feces," he said.

"The child was dirty, and it appeared that she had not been bathed in quite a while," Rivas said.

The child was taken into protective custody, and after further investigation, Miller, 44, was charged with first degree child cruelty.

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

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