8-year-old autistic child found dead in Georgia woods; mother and partner arrested

DeKALB COUNTY, Ga. (TCD) -- A mother and her partner were arrested after the body of her 8-year-old autistic daughter was found in the woods on Sunday.

According to a press release from the Gwinnett County Police, Nicole Amari Hall’s body was discovered around 10:45 a.m. in the woods near Juliet Drive and Stone Mill Trace. The area was about 15 miles from Hometown Studios, the hotel where Amari and her family were reportedly living.

Amari was reportedly last seen between midnight and 1 a.m. on Nov. 21 wearing a Tweety Bird jacket and blue and white pajamas. Her mother Brittany Nicole Hall, who is reportedly new to the neighborhood, called police to report Amari missing that morning.

Upon questioning, there were allegedly inconsistencies in the statements about Amari’s disappearance from Hall and her partner Celeste Owens.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gwinnett County Police Chief J.D. McClure said, "We compared statements that we had gotten from Brittany Hall and also her partner, Celeste Owens. We compared those statements and recognized those statements were indeed false."

McClure added, "I can’t speculate on why they reported her as missing. But our investigation revealed Amari was not, in fact, missing. Very early in the investigation, we began to suspect foul play."

Hall was arrested Monday, Nov. 22, and charged with cruelty to children first-degree and making a false report of a crime. Gwinnett County Police said Hall may face additional charges.

Owens was reportedly arrested Sunday, Nov. 21. She faces multiple charges including making false statements in connection with the investigation, felony murder, and cruelty to children, first-degree, according to Gwinnett County Police.

A 6-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy living with Hall were taken into protective custody by child services.

Owens and Hall were being held without bond.

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