The GBI has arrested the owner of a home for disabled and handicapped children on four counts of felony cruelty to children and three counts of felony false imprisonment.
David Fahey, age 62, is the owner of King’s Cleft, located at 159 Union Grove Church Road in Wrightsville. The arrest comes after a nearly two-month long investigation into allegations of abuse of disabled adults and children at the home.
King’s Cleft is a nonprofit organization that provides a home for disabled and handicapped children. Many of the children lived at King’s Cleft through adulthood. At the beginning of the investigation, five children and five adults were found at King’s Cleft. The children were removed and placed into the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services. The disabled adults are in the process of being removed by Adult Protective Services. Fahey was arrested at King’s Cleft and taken to the Johnson County Detention Center for processing.
On Friday, January 21, 2022, Johnson County Sheriff Greg Rowland asked the GBI to assist with this investigation into allegations of child abuse and disabled adult abuse at King’s Cleft. Kathy Fahey, David Fahey’s wife, died during the investigation. She was also a subject of this investigation.
This joint investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at 478-374-6988 or the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at 478-864-3941. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
From Johnson Co Sheriff’s Office:
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, is currently investigating reports of mistreatment of both minors and adults at The King’s Cleft, a nonprofit Christian “family” home for the profoundly disabled. The home is located at 159 Union Grove Church Road in Wrightsville, Johnson County, Georgia.
Sheriff Greg Rowland announced on March 2, 2022, that David E. Fahey, age 62 of Wrightsville, was arrested for felony cruelty to children and felony false imprisonment after a two-month investigation. Fahey was taken into custody without incident at the King’s Cleft and transported to the Johnson County Detention Center where he is being held. There remain some disabled adults who are being cared for by Adult Protective Services. Children were removed earlier on in the investigation, and they are being cared for by Department of Family and Children Services. We are conducting interviews along with our local and state partners including GBI, Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Adult Protective Services (APS) and the Dublin Circuit District Attorney’s Office. This remains an open and fluid investigation and additional charges are likely, and we will be forwarding this case to our local District Attorney’s Office for further review.
Sheriff Rowland asks that anyone with additional information to please call the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at 478-864-4003 or the GBI Region 12 Eastman Office at 478-374-6988. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).
