UPDATED: Missing Boy Found and is Safe
Mom dropped 1½ -year-old at Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station with another woman in late November and hadn't seen either since.
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UPDATED: At 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 6., APD said the boy was found and is safe. Investigators who determined that the "Syliva" they were looking for is Sylvia Franklin, 26. They are are still working the case to see what happened, but have not released any other information.
Original post:
Atlanta police seek the public's help in finding a 1½ -year-old boy, who was last seen at the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station on Nov. 26.
The little boy, Malachi Devon Burley, has been missing ever since.
Officer Kim Y. Jones, an Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman, gave the following account:
On Nov. 26, 2012, between the hours of 7 p. m. and 8 p.m., Ms. Laquanda Sireka Burley met a woman by the name of “Sylvia” (no last name) at the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station.
Ms. Burley dropped her child, Malachi D. Burley off to visit for a week with “Sylvia” and she has not seen or heard from “Sylvia” or her son, Malachi, since that November evening.
“Sylvia” is reported to be an African American female, approximately 30 years of age, between 5’2" and 5’3" tall and about 230 pounds, with a dark complexion. "Sylvia was last seen wearing black pajama pants, a purple and white shirt and a black jacket.
At this time, Ms. Burley has not been able to provide any additional information on “Sylvia,” such as a phone number or physical address.
If you know the whereabouts of little Malachi, please call 911 or contact the Atlanta Police Youth Squad at 404.546.4260.
Chris H
5:36 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I guess you just don't have all the information but this story sounds crazy. The mother dropped her child off to stay a week with a woman that she does not know her phone number or her address? Something is not right here. Hopefully they find this poor kid.
Chris H
5:37 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Peralte, you had to be thinking a big "WTF?" when writing this story!
Péralte Paul
6:55 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
That's putting it mildly, Chris. I do hope the little boy is found.
Traci Sampson
6:01 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
This is a similiar story to Casey Anthony. Mysterious woman and no contact info - like someone who isn't batsh*t crazy or a murderer would ever behave this way!
Ms.
6:40 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Even if the child turned up, which I highly doubt, he should be permanently removed from her home. What type of "mother" leaves their child with someone they don't even have the last name or contact information for, for a week? Anyone with an ounce of common sense could see this is a BS story from a mile away. Poor child.
Péralte Paul
7:06 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Readers: He has been found but police are still investigating.
Monea
9:27 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
What? Why? Who? How? Important questions in investigative reporting.
Péralte Paul
11:13 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Agreed. We will report updates as they come in. We'd asked police for more specifics but they weren't releasing any details. Fox 5 reported that the mom said she needed a "break" which is why she sent him away.
Shaira Leah Gomez
7:58 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Good thing that the boy was safe. But this incident may serve as a lesson for us that we should take extra precautions speaking for our safety. The good thing here is that he was not been a victim of those criminals who are freely roaming around the place. But as a parent let us not wait that something bad would happen to our children before we make a move. Let's try to consider "what if's" rather than taking risk. Good thing I heard about this safety app. Making me feel that I'm not alone.In just a press of a panic button I know help will come. Try to goggle safetrec in any browsers your comfortable with.