The Tragic Death of Terrell Peterson: A Story of Child Abuse and Neglect

Terrell Peterson was a five-year-old boy from Atlanta, Georgia who was brutally beaten to death in 1998. His case was being supervised by the Georgia Department of Human Services' Division of Family and Children Services, and his death was one of over 800 children who died between 1995 and 1998 after their cases were brought to the attention of the agency. Terrell's case was considered one of the worst instances of child abuse in history. His grandmother and aunt were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for their crimes. The tragedy of Terrell's death brought attention to the need for reform within the child welfare system and led to changes in the way that child abuse cases are handled in Georgia.