Hinesville mother pleads guilty to felony murder in death of disabled 6-year-old daughter; experts say system failed the child

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - A Hinesville mother is now serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of her 6-year-old daughter — a case that child welfare experts say exposes deep, systemic failures in Georgia’s child protection system.

Shelly Lynn Perry pleaded guilty to nine charges on March 11, 2026, in front of Liberty County Superior Court Judge Jay Stewart. The charges included felony murder, two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, two counts of false statements and writings, one count of cruelty to children in the second degree, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another.

She is now serving a life sentence (30 years) with the possibility of parole.

Perry was charged in connection with the May 1, 2023, death of her daughter, Aniyah Perry. Hinesville police responded to Perry’s Saunders Avenue apartment that evening on a call for an unresponsive child.

According to the incident report and WTOC’s previous reporting, an officer found Aniyah motionless in a bedroom, her face blue and not breathing. Records show the home had little to no food, with only macaroni and cheese in the cabinet and bugs crawling out of the microwave.

Perry told the officer she had checked on Aniyah every 30 to 45 minutes after the child went down for a nap around 5 p.m. She said when she went to feed her daughter shortly after 8:30 p.m., she was unable to wake her and called 911.

Warning signs dated back years

WTOC Investigates previously obtained records from the Department of Family and Children Services showing Aniyah had a documented history with the agency long before her death.

In July 2020, Aniyah — who used a wheelchair due to a disability — was hospitalized with a fracture to her left leg and bruising. Perry initially told doctors the injuries were the result of a fall from a bed, but doctors determined that account did not match Aniyah’s injuries.

DFCS removed Perry’s children from the home and placed them with a relative. After Perry completed state-required parenting classes and counseling, a judge ordered the DFCS case closed in December 2021.

A separate Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into the 2020 incident remained open at the time the DFCS case was closed.

WTOC has since confirmed that GBI investigation is now closed and has submitted an open records request for those files.

‘The system failed’

Ashley Willcott, a former Georgia judge, Court TV anchor, and child welfare law specialist, briefly reviewed the details of the case at WTOC’s request. She did not mince words.

“The system failed,” Willcott said. “In my opinion, the system failed, because the child never should have been in a circumstance to then be injured again. What a red flag that should have been investigated further. Something more should have been done, and that could have prevented this child’s murder.”

Willcott said the simultaneous closure of the DFCS case while the GBI investigation remained open raises serious questions.

“I really can’t think of a scenario where it makes sense that if GBI has an open investigation into a non-accidental injury, that DFCS should necessarily close its case,” she said. “Generally, it makes you wonder if it was closed prematurely, which is what I’m afraid of.”

Willcott also emphasized that Aniyah’s disability made her especially vulnerable.

“A child with a disability may not be able to walk away from abuse,” she said. “They cannot walk themselves out of the room. The vulnerabilities of the child are specifically different because of a disability — and so are the needs of the child.”

Katie Blair, executive director of Brightside Child & Family Advocacy, said the failures in this case are not isolated.

“The system is so overburdened, it’s impossible to have the level of oversight, particularly in counties like Liberty,” Blair said.

“We have so few resources, and case managers managing incredibly high caseloads. How could you expect anything different?”

Blair said the problem is not a lack of dedication among frontline workers, but a lack of investment from the state.

“Someone working within the system told me she can’t sleep at night because she’s just scared to death children are going to die,” Blair said.

“She doesn’t have the support she needs, and she is constantly in fear about keeping children safe. That’s what it looks like on the ground. That’s what it looks like in Liberty County.”

Robinson’s case still pending

Perry’s boyfriend at the time of Aniyah’s death, Brandon Robinson, 37, was also charged in connection with the case. His case has been separated from Perry’s and has not yet been adjudicated. His attorney confirmed Robinson’s case is still pending and that he maintains his innocence.

Liberty County DFCS has not responded to WTOC’s request for comment.

‘This murder was preventable’

Willcott said she hopes the case serves as a wake-up call, both for the public and for state leaders.

“This murder was preventable,” she said.

She urged anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected to report it immediately, noting that reporter identities are protected under state law and DFCS policy.

“See something, say something is a saying for a reason,” Willcott said.

“So often, crimes against children could have been prevented had they been reported and then properly investigated.”

WTOC will continue to follow Robinson’s pending case and the GBI open records request.