HARALSTON, Ga. -- Authorities are investigating the death of an 8-month-old girl who died in a home near Tallapoosa on Wednesday.
According to the Haralson County Sheriff's Office, the child was dead when she arrived at the Higgins Hospital that night.
The parents of the infant, 46-year-old Robert Derek Downey and 36-year-old Melanie Ann Prichard have been arrested and both face charges of murder and cruelty to children.
Authorities also think that drug-related charges will be tacked onto this case.
Haralson County Sheriff Eddie Mixon said, "Nothing impacts law enforcement like the death of a child, today we are all grieving the loss of this little life." Mixon asked for the community to join him in praying for all of those impacted by the death."
The child's cause of death has not been determined.