Ray McElrathbey mother Tonya Mcelrathbey is a drug addict who showed negligence towards her kids during their growth years.

The 56-year-old Tonya was battling an addiction to some illegal substances for more than 10 years and her husband lived in Las Vagas and had a serious problem with gambling. She was depressed for several years which majorly contributed to her addiction and she wanted to consume more substances to feel good. 

McElrathbey was not able to take care of his children which let them spend more of their time in foster homes and living with his coaches because she could not sober enough to win custody of her children according to Tiger Net. She had sent her younger son to live with Ray and had sent him consent to have custody of Fahmarr in July 2006 because she was not able properly to care for her son. Fehmarn went to visit his brother in Clemson but soon after he was permanently staying with his older brother. 

Tonya was struggling to get by every day in Atlanta because of her addiction and lack of money. As per Tiger Net, she stated that she was extremely guilty that she had to send him to his older brother as he was in college and he was also struggling. But she was going through a difficult time and believed that it was the best possible decision to make in that situation. 

Ray and Tonya did not have a great relationship as he started to live in foster homes when he was seven years old and later he moved in with his football coach. Tonya had even taken him to a crack house and placed the boy in the room by himself when she left to get high when he was a child. He stated in an interview that the smell of drugs has been familiar ever since he was a child and it seemed like a common smell because he could smell it in the bathroom after she had used it.

The footballer was only nine years old when the dealers would pay him to keep their product as the police would not suspect a child. With the influence of their mom, he even started to consume some marijuana and continued to do so throughout middle school. 

Ray Ray also thought about taking in his other brother and sister who were living with his mom at that time because Tonya could not be trusted with the children but knew it was not possible. Also, all the other siblings were staying with the older sisters.

Their relationship has always been rocky due to his mother's depression and consuming products. 

Even though they do not have a good relationship the football player stated that he did not resent or judge his parents because it was just who they were and they could not help how they were.