Her autistic son’s violent outbursts left her fearing for her life. Now a state investigation found violations suggesting Georgia’s child welfare agency failed them both.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A metro Atlanta mother who says she was physically attacked by her severely autistic teenage son is now fighting back against the state agency she accuses of failing her family. Now, an independent investigation has sided with her.
Tracie (last name withheld) said her 15-year-old son, Jonathan, who has severe autism and a documented history of violent behavior, punched her in the chest during a recent incident. “His first landing come and hit my arm,” she said, describing the attack. “That punch came down into my center chest.”
The family first came to public attention in February 2025, when an Atlanta News First investigation revealed Jonathan was involved in a Fulton County police standoff after he broke into a business and threatened to harm others and himself.
Charges against Jonathan were eventually dismissed. A senior judge unrelated to this case suggested it likely stemmed from the teen not having the mental capacity to understand the charges. The decision frustrated Tracie, who said the juvenile court failed to hold her son accountable.
Tracie also accused the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) of failing to provide proper mental and behavioral health resources, including a specialized residential facility. She further alleged that on a phone call with DFCS, staff threatened to charge her with “abandonment” following the SWAT standoff.
Feeling she had no options, Tracie filed to voluntarily give up her parental rights. She has since revoked that voluntary filing, officially deciding to retain her parental rights.
“I realized I am my son’s strongest advocate,” Tracie said. “I am his mom. I’m the one who knows him inside and out, and if I can’t stand up for my child, why would I expect anyone else to?”
Tracie’s decision came in part after she filed a complaint with the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), the state’s independent oversight agency that inspects DFCS cases. State records show the OCA investigated this case and Atlanta News First Investigates obtained copies of the findings.
The documents show DFCS violated six state policies related to providing individualized services and referrals for treatment. The OCA stated in the review that DFCS “admitted that the case manager did not work [Jonathan’s] case.”
When asked for additional comment on this investigation, the OCA said it can’t comment beyond what was issued in its report due to confidentiality requirements.
“DFCS holds parents accountable, as they should, and nails them against the wall for things like neglect,” the mom said. “Who holds DFCS accountable?”
The OCA cannot enforce change or impose penalties against DFCS, but only issue recommendations. However, Tracie said that shortly after the OCA’s review, DFCS agreed to place Jonathan in a specialized facility for treatment.
“They neglected my son,” she said, adding the investigation supported this, “and yet nothing was done about it. I don’t believe that’s OK.”
Jonathan is now placed at a residential facility in Brunswick, Georgia, where he is expected to remain for approximately one year. “DHS/DFCS is bound by both state and federal law to protect the privacy of the people we serve. As such, we are unable to comment on the specifics of any reported abuse or neglect cases,” a DFCS spokesperson said. “We take seriously every report that might be made to the agency and work with law enforcement when appropriate to ensure the safety of Georgia’s children.”
State lawmakers recently established a study committee to review alleged “abandonment” cases like Tracie’s and are considering whether changes in state law could help families in similar situations.
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