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Last Updated: Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 06:57 PM
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Sheriff: Georgia mom forced son to kill hamster

A Georgia woman is in jail after being accused of forcing her son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for bad grades.
A photo from the Meriwether County, Ga., Sheriff's Department shows Lynn Middlebrooks Geter. Geter, 38, is charged with one count each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery.
A photo from the Meriwether County, Ga., Sheriff's Department shows Lynn Middlebrooks Geter. Geter, 38, is charged with one count each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery. Meriwether County Sheriff's Department / AP

A Georgia woman is in jail after being accused of forcing her son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for bad grades.

The sheriff of rural Meriwether County told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday that the 12-year-old boy told his teacher about the killing. The teacher reported it to the Division of Family and Child Services, who contacted police.

Sheriff Steve Whitlock said 38-year-old Lynn Middlebrooks Geter of Warm Springs faces one charge each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery.

The sheriff's office said she remained in the Meriwether County jail early Friday. It was not immediately known if she had a lawyer.

Meriwether County is about 90 minutes southwest of Atlanta.