A Georgia mother, Candice McClure, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after it was revealed that she had been abusing her child for nearly a decade. The abuse came to light when the child, who was a student at an elementary school, told their teacher about the beatings and choking.
The Abuse and Discovery
According to Cherokee County District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway, the schoolteachers were the “heroes” in this case. They recognized the signs of abuse and provided a safe space for the child to speak out. In 2023, the child told their teacher that McClure had kicked and punched their legs, and also choked them with her hands.
This prompted the teacher to report the abuse to Child Services and the Canton Police Department, leading to an investigation. After visiting McClure’s home, child services workers found bruises on the child’s leg and marks on their forehead that matched a belt pattern.
Medical Evidence
The child was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where doctors confirmed significant bruising on the child’s legs and the marks on their forehead from a belt. The injuries were consistent with being struck by a belt and were photographed for evidence.
Background of Abuse
The investigation revealed that the abuse likely began before the family moved to Cherokee County, as the child had been in a different county in 2016, where McClure had also been reported for similar injuries. In 2016, when the child was just 4 years old, they were taken to a medical center twice that year with unexplained bruises and scrapes all over their body.
McClure’s History and Trial
McClure was previously arrested in 2016 on child cruelty charges. During her trial, the jury heard testimony from a dozen witnesses, including the victim, law enforcement, medical staff, and child advocacy experts. They also saw photographs of the child’s injuries and the forensic interview where the child explained the abuse.
The jury deliberated for just two and a half hours before finding McClure guilty of aggravated assault and cruelty to children. Prosecutors also introduced medical evidence from 2016 showing past injuries to the same child.
The Sentencing
At McClure’s sentencing, the child, now older, gave a victim impact statement, thanking the jury for listening and telling McClure that no one deserves to be treated that way. The child was accompanied by an adoptive parent, a victim advocate, and their service dog Parker, who offered comfort during the emotional moment.
