LaGrange baby dies; parents arrested for deplorable conditions

LAGRANGE, Ga. - A Lagrange baby died mysteriously and her parents were arrested on what appears to be unrelated deprivation charges.

The unexpected death happened January 3 in room 131 of the Town and Country Motel on New Franklin Road.

Lagrange Police said they were responding to a fight call, but when they arrived they found the baby's parents in a frantic state because the 3-month-old had stopped breathing. When police took a closer look, they realized the infant was dead and no one knows why.

"I responded to the scene and didn't see any evidence of any physical abuse or anything like that," Lagrange police Sgt. Robert Kirby said.

What police said they did see were deplorable conditions inside the room. It has been cleaned up now and is ready to rent again. Police told FOX 5 News, the filth was so bad, Department of Family and Children's Services took the children into custody and placed the parents, Jonathan and Kaleigh Pruitt, under misdemeanor arrest for deprivation of minors.

"I would describe what I saw as deplorable conditions. It was just dirty and in bad shape. It is an environment that children should not be living in," Sgt. Kirby remarked.

Police said they are awaiting autopsy results from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation before they make another move on the investigation.