Parents Tattoo Their Children

Patty Jo Marsh and her husband, Jacob Bartels, from Georgia, used a makeshift tattooing machine, with a guitar string as a needle, on their children, aged 10 to 17. Five of the children have a cross on their hands while another had “Mom and Dad” on his arm. Only their youngest child (7) was not tattooed because they believed he was to young. Marsh said to authorities that she had no idea that it was against Georgia state law to tattoo if you were an unlicensed artist and if you were tattooing children. The law in Georgia is: It shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except a licensed physician or osteopath, or a technician acting under the supervision of a licensed physician or osteopath. Any person violating the provisions of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.  Marsh said she only tattooed the children after they said they wanted to be more like their parents.

This incident was reported to police after two of the children stayed with their biological mother, who was told by the children that they were fake tattoos, and when she complained that she was unable to wash off the ink, she called The Division of Family and Children Services. Marsh and Bartels have been charged with cruelty to children, reckless conduct, and tattooing. Marsh said she feels that the entire incident was blown out of proportion, and that they are good parents. She also said, “If I’m such a bad parent, then how come they brought the kids back after I got out of jail?”