Deputies: Mother arrested for toddler's murder

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities announced Wednesday they have charged a Newton County mother with the murder of her 2-year-old daughter.

A spokesperson with the Newton County Sheriff's Office told FOX 5's Deidre Dukes they have charged 31-year-old Jennifer Bellah in the shooting death of 2-year-old Natalya Bellah.

Authorities launched a homicide investigation they say they received a call at 5:53 Tuesday afternoon from a home on Brown Thrasher Road from Bellah telling them that she had shot her daughter with a firearm. When deputies responded, they found the toddler's body. The Newton County Coroner pronounced the girl dead at the scene.

“We got a call at about [5:25 p.m.] in regards to a penetrating trauma that happened here at this residence,” said Deputy Favel Edwards, with the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies executed a search warrant for the home on Brown Thrasher Run to collect evidence.

Officials say deputies recovered a firearm, a spent shell casing, and spent bullets from inside the home. Investigators believe the mother and daughter were the only two people inside at the time.

Bellah is charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm. She's scheduled to make her first court appearance Thursday before a Newton County magistrate judge.

Investigators have not released a possible motive for the shooting death.