By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Grand jury indicts Richards, Waller
Thorne also indicted
Placeholder Image

An Effingham County grand jury has indicted the parents of a baby still recovering from alleged child abuse at a Savannah hospital.

The grand jury returned true bills of indictment against Tina Richards and Phillip Waller. Richards, currently serving a 21-year sentence for violating her probation for an earlier incident, has been charged with two counts of cruelty to children, aggravated assault and aggravated battery for a January incident involving her son, then 10-month-old Aiden Waller.

She was on probation for a July charge of one count of cruelty to children and one count of battery against Aiden. Aiden will turn 1 on Wednesday.

Waller, Aiden’s father, has been charged with obstruction and cruelty to children. His request for bond on those charges was denied last week by Superior Court Judge Gates Peed.

Richards, who gave birth to another son earlier this month, is incarcerated at the Metro State Prison in Atlanta.

The grand jury also indicted Jackie Thorne, who is accused of armed robbery and carjacking. Authorities said Thorne attempted to run another motorist off the road, then carjacked the couple who stopped to help him after he ran off the road in late December.

Thorne was indicted for 16 charges, including hijacking a motor vehicle, three counts of armed robbery and three counts of aggravated assault.