WARE COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Ware County Sheriff’s Office have arrested and charged five people following a multi-agency investigation into child sexual abuse involving multiple victims across several counties, the GBI said.
Arrested and charged:
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- Joel Christopher Heath, 42, of Blackshear, Georgia — charged with aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, child exploitation and child molestation.
- Theresa Bryant, 55, of Alma, Georgia — charged with sex trafficking, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy and first-degree cruelty to a child.
- Betty Sue Corbitt, 60, of Waycross, Georgia — charged with child exploitation.
- Elizabeth Delk, 48, of Homerville, Georgia — charged with aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, child exploitation and child molestation.
- Amber Lynn Hult, 45, of West Columbia, South Carolina — charged with sex trafficking, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, first-degree cruelty to a child and incest.
According to the GBI, WCSO arrested Heath in early June after an investigation into child molestation allegations. That probe uncovered evidence of several additional child victims, ages 13 and under, in multiple counties. The Clinch and Charlton county sheriff’s offices then asked the GBI to assist, and the expanded investigation led to the arrests of Bryant, Corbitt, Delk and Hult.
Heath, Delk and Corbitt were booked into the Ware County Jail. Bryant was booked into the Bacon County Jail. Hult was booked into the Lexington County (South Carolina) Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Georgia.
Investigators have identified eight victims so far, between the ages of 3 and 13. The investigation is ongoing and additional victims may be identified.
The Charlton County Sheriff’s Office, Clinch County Sheriff’s Office, Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Lexington County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department assisted in the inquiry.
How to report tips The investigation is active. Anyone with information is urged to contact the GBI’s regional investigative office in Douglas at 912-389-4103. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or via the See Something, Send Something mobile app.