WARM SRPINGS, Ga. -- Police have arrested a Georgia woman who they say forced her son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for earning a bad grade.

38-year-old Lynn Middlebrooks Geter faces one charge each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery.

Meriwether County sheriff Steve Whitlock told CBS Atlanta Thursday that the 12-year-old boy told his teacher about the killing.

Whitlock knows the mom personally. CBS Atlanta asked him if this is something that the son could have made up.

The sheriff says it happened.

“The mother was really upset and she proceeded to punish the child in a strange manner,” said Whitlock.

Geter is a dental hygienist and a former daycare provider who used to care for kids out of her Warm Springs home.

She has three kids including the 12-year-old son who came home from Manchester Middle School last week with bad grades.

Allegedly, Geter also hit her son. Teachers at the school noticed marks on the boy’s neck the next day.

The teacher reported it to the Division of Family and Child Services, who contacted police.

A neighbor who's known the Geter’s for almost 20 years can't believe it happened.

“I've known Lynn. I know Brad, work with him out at GP. Good people far as I’m concerned. I'm not convinced of any of it,” said Ken Brock.

The sheriff says mom has been arrested before for minor crimes, but nothing violent.

Geter was arrested Friday and remained in the Meriwether County jail Thursday evening. It was not immediately known if she had a lawyer.

The kids are now in DEFACS custody.