Marietta, GA — A 3-year-old boy was found wandering alone near a Georgia roadway Monday evening after he apparently left his home unnoticed, according to police. Two women driving through the area spotted the toddler and stepped in to get him to safety.
The incident began around 5:45 p.m. near Franklin Gateway and Twin Brooks Drive in Marietta. The women saw the young boy walking by himself and picked him up before taking him to a nearby gas station.
They then called police and waited for officers to arrive.
The toddler could not tell authorities his name or explain where he lived, leaving police with few immediate clues about where he had come from. Officers eventually turned to the public for help, posting the child’s picture on the department’s Facebook page in an effort to identify him and locate his family.
The boy’s family eventually arrived and picked him up at around 7:30 p.m.
Caregiver allegedly took 30 minutes to notice
As investigators looked into how the child ended up alone, authorities reportedly learned that his caregiver had not immediately realized he was missing.
Maria Guadalupe Almanza Rivera, 29, is identified in jail records as facing charges of second-degree child cruelty and reckless conduct.
According to warrants obtained by a local news outlet, Almanza Rivera allegedly did not realize the child was missing for approximately 30 minutes.
The warrants reportedly also state that she waited until around 7:30 p.m., roughly two hours after the boy had gone missing, before contacting family members to say she could not find him and asking them to help search for him.
The circumstances surrounding the toddler leaving the home remain part of the investigation.
Police say caregiver gave family a different explanation
Investigators also reportedly uncovered a text message that added another detail to the case.
According to the warrants, Almanza Rivera allegedly texted a family member and asked them to tell police that she had been in the bathroom when the boy wandered away.
Authorities ultimately arrested Almanza Rivera and took her to the Cobb County Jail, where jail records indicate she was being held without bond.
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Her next court date was not immediately listed. The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
Two women credited for getting toddler to safety
Police credited the two women who spotted the child for quickly taking action.
Officer Chuck McPhilamy told the Marietta Daily Journal that the women remained with the toddler until authorities were able to locate his family.
“They were fantastic,” McPhilamy told the Journal. “They stayed the whole time until we were able to locate the family.”
Their intervention meant the toddler was brought somewhere safe while police worked to determine who he was and where he belonged.
What do you think about the two women’s quick response in getting the toddler to safety? Share your thoughts in the comments.