Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old man from Georgia, has been released on a $10,000 bond after spending six weeks in jail on attempted kidnapping charges related to an incident at a Walmart in the Atlanta area. He is accused of forcibly removing a 2-year-old child from the child’s mother, 26-year-old Caroline Miller. Miller reported that there was a struggle over the child, but surveillance footage later revealed discrepancies in her account, according to Patel’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant.
The incident reportedly occurred while Miller and the child were in a special shopping cart for disabled individuals. Patel allegedly grabbed the child, causing Miller to fear for their safety. However, Patel maintains that he was merely trying to help stabilize the toddler after the child slipped from Miller’s lap. Merchant argued that Patel thought Miller was disabled and had offered assistance by holding the child while she showed him where to find Tylenol. Surveillance footage reportedly supports his claims, asserting that he did not attempt to kidnap the child.
Since his arrest, Patel has gained significant online support, with a petition for his release gathering over 47,200 signatures. After his release, Patel expressed relief and excitement about returning home, especially for home-cooked meals. He remains focused on his defense, and no trial date has been set yet. Patel described himself as a “positive guy” and expressed gratitude for the support from his friends and family during this challenging time.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
