Five former DJJ employees indicted one year after death of youth in custody

WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. – Five former employees at the Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center in Dalton have been indicted after Alexis Sluder died in custody in August 2022.

Sluder was an Ellijay resident who had been transferred to the detention center. She was there less than 24 hours before she died due to an adverse reaction to an illegal substance that she ingested.

The charges for those who were to watch her and provide her with medical intervention are listed below:

Maveis Brooks, sergeant, age 35, of Calhoun, GA – 2 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children

Russell Ballard, cadet, age 62, of Chatsworth, GA – 2 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children

Rebecka Phillips, officer, age 45, of Chatsworth, GA – 2 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children

Monica Hedrick, nurse, age 62, Ringgold, GA – 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children

David McKinney, Detention Center Director, age 53, of Rome, GA – 1 count of second-degree cruelty to children

The GBI stated, “The Dalton Police Department and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office greatly assisted in this investigation. The Whitfield County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting this case.”