Georgia Couple Arrested For Tattooing Their Six Underage Kids with Guitar String, Homemade Device

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Summerville News)

(Chattooga County Sheriff)

SUMMERVILLE, Ga. (CBS/AP) Tattooing six of their underage children with a jerry-rigged machine, using a guitar string as the needle, sounded like a good idea to Patty Jo Marsh and her husband Jacob Edwards Bartels at the time.

Photo: Tattoo Machine Used by Patty Jo Marsh and Jacob Edwards Bartels.

But the Georgia pair failed to recognize the consequences of their ink-fest, and they were arrested late last year after the biological mother of two of the children complained the tats wouldn't wash off.

Go figure.

Turns out Georgia state law prohibits both tattoos on children and those created by unlicensed artist.

Photo: A Hand Tattoo Created by Patty Jo Marsh and Jacob Edwards Bartels.

Marsh and Bartels were arrested December 28, and are charged with three counts each of illegal tattooing, second degree child cruelty and reckless conduct.

Both bonded out of jail Friday evening on $10,000 property bonds each.

Police say the "parents of the year" used a plastic pen body with a needle made from a guitar string connected to an electric motor to tattoo six children and themselves.

Five children, ages 10 to 17, got a cross-like tattoo on their hands and a sixth had "mom and dad" inked on his arm — in honor of you know who..

Only the youngest child was ink-free.

The Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services was called. All the children were placed with other family members upon the couple's arrest.

Marsh says she gave the children tattoos because "they asked us to."

"It's unusual," said Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett, to the city's local paper. "I've never seen parents tattooing their kids like that."

"I'm their mother. Shouldn't I be able to decide if they get one?," Marsh said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, after being released from jail on bail.

"They weren't hurt by them," Marsh said to the paper.

"We would never do anything to hurt them….I don't understand why this is getting 'blowed up' so big."

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by rebeccah33 April 11, 2011 1:52 AM EDT: The mother sounds like an imbecile to ask why she can't do that if they are her kids. People need to stop thinking that children are property. Children are humans and they don't belong to you just because you pushed them out of your vag. If you are not going take care of them, they will be taken away from you. I don't agree that children belong to the state either, but someone needs to have control over the welfare of the children and if the parents are too stupid to handle that, they need to prepare themselves for the consequences. Lady, you'll probably never read this, but for the slightest chance that you do here's a message for you: Your children do NOT belong to you. Your job is protect, nurture and always put their needs before yours. Their needs are not tattoos. Kids WANT many things, that doesn't mean you give it to them and that was a pretty sorry excuse you used. I guess if your kids WANT all your money and to stay up all night, then eat icecream for breakfast and take some drugs, you should let them do that as well. Bottom line, this was for your own amusement and I'm happy you'll pay the price for it. Learn how to be a parent.; Reply to this comment

by barbaram99 January 7, 2010 6:49 PM EST

I like what the gent said that does it for living..he brought up things about the body that needed to be said..There are educated people that has to be minded to wash their paws..What is appalling is they used their children to put marks on their bodies with no thought of what it will do to it..Maybe a small tattoo can be removed if ye have the money have it done. It seems common sense has not beeb taught in years..They should have known better to home tattoo them..It is child abuse..

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by toldyouso21 January 7, 2010 7:26 PM EST: There is no difference in the potential to transmit disease or end up with an infection from tatooing and piercing. BOTH can transmit hepatitis or HIV so what? If they really were interested in prohibiting the tats of one's kids, they should prevent and arrest people for ear piercing at home too--it is the same violation, in that a lay person is essential performing an invasive procedure but is neither licensed or trained to do so.

everyone who rags about body piercing--including ears--has a point when it comes to the double standard.

by bjbda January 7, 2010 6:32 PM EST

I agree that it was dangerous for the children due to the way the tattoo was done. But, everyone jumps down their throats for being lowlife rednecks, southerners, and even figured they must be republicans. Why is it that everyone in this country thinks that they know what is right and wrong when it comes to anyone elses parenting or lack there of? Tattooing of children in some countries and tribes is a right of passage (which trust me I don't believe that is what these parents were intending AT ALL). I agree that they should be charged with the proper charges for the laws broken but other than that, I'm not going to sit here on my high horse and trash the family for what they did. I find it hillarious that half the posts ended up being political attacks and ramblings. Honestly it is truly sad. Where the heck did free insurance and govornment paying peoples bills fit into the entire news story? I guess I didn't read the next page. Come on people, you are all entitled to your own views but to trash everyone in every news story really does get old.

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by rottencandy June 1, 2010 1:33 PM EDT: You ask why everyone in America thinks they know what's right and wrong when it comes to parenting? It does not take a genius or even a parent to know and see what is right or wrong when it comes to children and tattooing kids is WRONG! Even if it is your own child it is still wrong. These idiots tattooed their own kids and two who were not theirs and it is just as wrong either way. And it does not matter what so ever where these people live it does not make any difference at all. Hope you dont have kids


by bubbajill January 6, 2010 10:30 PM EST: Geez, maybe some people should pass a test before the become parents.; Reply to this comment

by jeff_stumpp_tattooer January 6, 2010 7:13 PM EST

there is a lot that can be commented about this news story...

as a professional and legally licensed tattooer of 13 years- this is an unfortunate and disgusting event. Tattooing CAN be a safe procedure when done correctly but this form of "do-it-yourself" mentality is dangerous. Diseases could potentially have been spread to these children. The state should have the parents tested for all blood borne pathogens immediately and then test the children over the next 3 months to see if any pathogens are present that the parents might have. I do not know that particular state's regulations about tattooing but procedures done out of the home should be criminal and are akin to having a dental procedure done out of a house. that is gross!

But the real problem exposed here is the total lack of nation wide "common sense" and education about our bodies and how disease is transmitted. I have found in my first hand-experience that even well educated, mature people are extremely ignorant of blood-borne-pathogens and disease transmission. Unfortunately many people nation wide feel that tattooing is inherently and perfectly safe regardless of the technicians ability. This is false! some even feel that "garbage" quality machines are ok...

The issue of the children's age is a different matter. The lack of respect these "adults" have for their own bodies is one thing but to assume and impose their mis-guided values onto children who are not capable of seeing past the next snack or instantly gratifying moment is atrocious.

My son is 13 and i would sue the pants off of anyone who did this to my child. I certainly would not consent to this. However i have seen many people feel that children with tattoos is acceptable. Although i personally feel that 16 and 17 with consent is still a bit odd; I have done them for this age group on occasion. I limit them to very small pieces (racquet ball size maximum) that are NOT on the lower arms or neck and no extreme subject matter and never in an area that is close to "bikini" areas or chest for young ladies. I generally only do a handful a year at most and they are generally the children of my current clients. i dont even like tattooing the hands of anyone who does not already have full sleeves done...

where i live there is no limit of age with consent. i feel that i at least educate these minors and parents about safety in the process and prevent them from getting hacked by the "butchers" else-where in town.

i love my profession but moments like these make me wish i could educate the world instantly, and no one can do that...

the "dumbing" of america has been going on for a while now folks... welcome to the show!

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by toldyouso21 January 7, 2010 7:07 PM EST: Pulheeese! If you are mad about anything, it is probably the LOSS OF INCOME if more people took it upon themselves to tat themselves. Frankly save the talk about blood borne pathogens or aseptic procedures, those ideas are fairly NEW to the tatoo industry and I can remember when tattoo parlors routinely used the same needles and equipment on everyone which prompted anyone saying they "visited a tattoo parlor to be denied the right to give blood and they were considered high risk.

So get off your high horse. the parents did this to their kids? So what? The main disadvantage is that children are NOT in a position to make such choices for themselves and the parents did not exercise the best judgment--but neither do a lot of parents--which is why we have so many self centered, disrespectful, greedy people running around anyway6.

As for tattooing their children--not a great idea, but neither are piercings and yet--women ROUTINELY get their children's ears pierced each year, often when the child is less than a year old.

THAT can also transmit diseases--males and females are pierced--see anyone trying to close down Claire's boutique or the silver hut lately?

Or is it just the idea of parents doing this--but it is okay to body pierce your kids? Talk about hypocrisy...

Neither should be allowed--but if you justify the one then you actually diminish or destroy the justification for not allowing the other.

by Wolfear January 6, 2010 12:30 PM EST

by rcleveland42 January 6, 2010 11:04 AM EST
Oh yes and your english and grammar is sooooooo much better than ours.
____________________________________________________________________

Ok, let me try and address a bit of what you are trying to say here. First off your state (assuming you live in GA) is ranked 44th in the nation for education. Not saying that makes you all ignorant but.... It is a good sign that most folks aren't up to par. Second your state unemployment rate is 10.2 slightly above national average so you really shouldn;t compplain about aid from the government since it is caring for many of your fellow Georgians. For that matter the free insurance (especially dental) probably a good idea. And finally lets not demonize people for being liberal; afterall it was liberal thinking that gave women and minorities the right to vote, put floride in the water, and made sure the work week was only 40 hours. Not to mention most of us aren;t liberals or Democrats we are either independants or fiscal repulicans that got tired of the social conservatives hijacking the way we all live. Oh and btw abotion is legal (even in your state). You don;t really have to agree with that it just is the way it is.

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by paranoira January 10, 2010 10:19 PM EST: There is a huge difference between a simple ear piercing (which will close and not leave a permanent modification) on a little girl versus a permanent tattoo on a child's hand.The mother said that the children wanted one but I wanted a pony when I was a little girl but I didn't get one. It has been said several times that in other cultures receiving a tattoo is a right of passage, however, that was not the case and should not even be mentioned in an example such as this. Did these people even know what they were doing? Or did they just google "how to make a tattoo machine from scraps"? I understand that not all states improvise an age limit when it comes to tattoos but there should be some small amount of sensibility when leaving a permanent mark on someone. But, at some time you just have to realize that there are a lot of people who are a bubble freekin short out there.


by excop1949 January 6, 2010 9:01 AM EST: I wonder where mom and dad learned this little craft?....looks like the kind of instruments they come up with in prison...; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 January 5, 2010 10:56 PM EST: Guitar string??? If I were going to make a homemade tattoo (which I won't) I think I'd use a needle.; Reply to this comment

by m0u5y January 5, 2010 9:00 PM EST

How many of you who are angry at these people actually pierced your toddler's ears? I have seen too many children (who obviously had no choice in the matter) end up being stabbed in the ears with a piercing gun and nobody arrested them.

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by formrusmcsgt January 5, 2010 9:14 PM EST: Maybe the fact that the piercing heals if not used has some bearing on the matter.

Tatoos never heal.


by m0u5y January 5, 2010 10:02 PM EST: Just because bruises heal, does that excuse hitting a child as opposed to cutting it? That doesn't fly with me. Piercings are unacceptable, they're painful and serve no purpose. Just because everyone does it, it still doesn't make it right. Also, tattoos can be removed, especially one that small.


by tryreading January 6, 2010 8:34 AM EST: I have both ear piercings and a tattoo, and the tattoo was definitely more painful than the piercings, even the one I did myself. Also, one can stop wearing earrings and the piercing will heal or become unnoticeable. That said, you and the previous poster who said the same thing do have a point about about piercing a small child (and my daughter got her ears pierced when she was 6 or 7). All I can say is pierced ears are more socially acceptable, are unlikely to cause a serious infection, and are easily and painlessly reversable.