An elderly man was found dead in his Marietta home early Tuesday morning, leading to the arrest of a 62-year-old woman on charges of neglect of an elderly person.
Cobb County Police officers responded to a residence on Stoneridge Drive at approximately 4:33 a.m. on May 28 after receiving a report of an unresponsive man at the home, according to police reports.
Officers found the man dead when they arrived at the scene. Police suspected foul play and called in detectives from the Major Crimes Unit to investigate.
What We Know: 62-year-old Rachel Ward, of Marietta, has been charged with neglect of an elderly person in connection with the man’s death. Ward was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and is being held without bond.
Police have not released the identity of the deceased man. The investigation began when someone called police to report finding the man unresponsive at the Stoneridge Drive residence.
Detectives determined that the circumstances surrounding the man’s death warranted criminal charges against Ward.
Take Action: Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Cobb County Police Department. The case number is 25034530.
Residents concerned about elderly neglect or abuse can contact Georgia’s Division of Aging Services hotline or local adult protective services for resources and reporting options.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
