Jones Co. couple charged with child abuse

JONES COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - A Jones County couple has been charged with child abuse of an unborn child after the woman allegedly tested posted for several drugs while pregnant.

Jones County Sheriff's Deputies conducted a welfare check on Wednesday at a residence in Sandersville because Child Protective Services reported that a pregnant woman, identified as 22-year-old Hailey Boyd, had not been seen or heard from, according to a Jones County Sheriff's Department news release.

Boyd admitted to deputies that she had tested positive for methamphetamine at South Central Regional Medical Center on June 14, and that she was now three days past her due date, according to the sheriff's department. She gave deputies permission to search her home, and they discovered several weapons that she said belonged to Tracy Herrington, 49, who was known by deputies to be a convicted felon.

Deputies arrested Boyd and charged her with child abuse. During an interview, Boyd said Herrington supplied her methamphetamine and they would smoke it together, according to the sheriff's department. Boyd also released her medical records, which showed she had tested positive for opiates, oxycodone and marijuana, according to the release.

Herrington was arrested later in the day and charged with child abuse and weapon possession by a convicted felon. Boyd was released pending grand jury review, according to the sheriff's department.

Herrington will make an initial appearance on Friday at 1 p.m. in Jones County Justice Court.

Copyright WDAM 2018. All rights reserved.