ATLANTA, GA – Rodney McWeay faces murder and multiple other charges in connection with the death of his 4-year-old daughter, Treasure McWeay. The girl, who was pronounced dead at a children’s hospital in Atlanta on December 11, was found to be severely malnourished and neglected.
The Atlanta Police Department reported that McWeay was arrested on December 21. In addition to murder, he faces 13 other counts, including first and second-degree child cruelty, kidnapping, and false imprisonment, as per court records.
These records indicate that the alleged abuses spanned from May 2021 to December 2023. McWeay’s first charge of battery family violence dates back to June 2022. Reports suggest he had become estranged from his family in recent years, with a relative mentioning an addiction to ketamine, or “special k.”
The arrest report reveals that the neglect and starvation affected not only Treasure but also two other children in the home, boys aged 3 and 4, one of whom is autistic.
Child Services intervened in late June after receiving complaints about the unsatisfactory conditions of McWeay’s home. The children were initially removed from the home, but McWeay reportedly traveled to Maryland, where the children’s mother, Passion Mitchell, lived.
This case has brought to light serious concerns about child welfare and the effectiveness of social services interventions. Investigations are continuing into the full scope of the alleged abuses.