Mom, stepfather charged after 3-year-old found wandering in SE Atlanta

Parents of wandering 3-year-old charged

The mother and stepfather of a 3-year-old boy found wandering in southeast Atlanta have been charged with cruelty to children and reckless conduct, according to police.

ATLANTA - A 3-year-old child is recovering at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Hughes Spalding Hospital after being found alone, barefoot, and appearing malnourished outside a southeast Atlanta home late Wednesday night.

What we know:

Atlanta police arrested the boy's mother, Lakisha Holmes, and her partner, Andre Roundtree, on Thursday morning. Both are now facing felony charges, including cruelty to children and reckless conduct.

The child was discovered around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 3200 block of Belford Road, when homeowner Roderick Arnold said he heard crying outside his front door.

What they're saying:

"I brought him into the house and called 911," Arnold told FOX 5 Atlanta.

Arnold said the child was only wearing underwear, had no shoes, and appeared to have been neglected. He also noted what looked like a foot injury and spotted what seemed to be blood on the floor.

"He had markings... foot was bleeding and it looked like it, but it may not have been. But he left little specks, looked like blood on the floor," Arnold said.

Holmes, who initially did not know her son had been found, told FOX 5 she was at work during the time of the incident.

"I had left and went to work last night about 3 or 4. My son was outside. My brother... he was going to the store and the baby walked out of the house and he was in the neighborhood," she said.

Neighbors reported that Holmes was searching for her child Thursday morning.

"I was worried. I was trying… just trying to, you know, figure out where my baby was," she said.

Just hours later, Atlanta police arrested Holmes and Roundtree. FOX 5 cameras were on the scene as officers took the pair into custody.

"Why are guys out here? It's not that serious," Holmes was heard saying during her arrest.

What's next:

As of Thursday afternoon, the child remained in medical care. The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services has been called in to assist with the investigation.

What you can do:

If you have any information that could help with the investigation, contact the Atlanta Police Department.