Crime & Safety

No Charges Filed in Missing Child Case

State child welfare officials investigating.

Atlanta police will not file charges against the mother or the babysitter of the toddler who had been missing since Nov. 26.

The toddler, Malachi Devon Burley, was found Dec. 6 after his mother, Laquanda Sireka Burley, reported him missing. Burley told police she dropped her 1½-year-old boy off at the Edgewood/Candler Park MARTA station with Sylvia Franklin, but she told investigators she didn't know Franklin's whereabouts, last name or telephone number.

The boy, who was found safe, was to stay with Franklin for only a week.

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An Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman said the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services is investigating the case.

Ravae Graham, a DFACS spokeswoman, said she could neither confirm nor deny the agency's involvement. Citing state privacy laws, she said the agency is prohibited from discussing any cases it may be working on unless there's a death.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fox 5 Atlanta reported the boy suffers from seizures and that his mother told police she felt overwhelmed. She thought a few days apart would be a help to both her and her son.


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