Kristy Cooley was sentenced Friday to 80 years in prison, with 40 years to be served, after a jury convicted her of two counts of aggravated battery, eight counts of cruelty to children, and two counts of tampering with evidence in Georgia.
Cooley subjected her 9-year-old middle child to years of abuse that included physical and psychological harm and medical neglect, according to prosecutors. She locked the girl in her bedroom for days at a time and starved her. The child was forced to use a bucket as a toilet and sneak out to find food. Cooley beat her daughter with a pipe and sticks when caught seeking food and burned her until she lost consciousness.
Cooley installed cameras throughout her home in Lilburn, Georgia and watched the child constantly to ensure her behavior met Cooley's standards. Prosecutors presented images from Cooley's phone showing the girl with a black eye at ages five or six.
The girl's teacher noticed signs of abuse during a mandatory check-in and alerted police, according to court reporting by Atlanta-based Fox affiliate WAGA. Doctors testified that Cooley's treatment included physical abuse, psychological abuse, and medical neglect.
Cooley's 9-year-old was her only child who was targeted for abuse. The girl's stepfather was also charged in connection with the abuse but died before trial. The Division of Family & Children Services had been alerted to conditions in the home when the child was a toddler, but prosecutors said there was no follow-up.