Acworth, GA — Charges have been dropped against a Kennesaw man who was previously accused of attempting to kidnap a 2-year-old boy at a Walmart in Cobb County, bringing a dramatic end to a case that had drawn both local and national attention.
Patel Freed After Prosecutors Meet With Mother
Mahendra Patel was initially arrested and indicted on charges of attempted kidnapping, battery, and assault following a March 18 incident at a Walmart in Acworth. But during a hearing held on Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors moved to dismiss all charges.
“We are satisfied that the ends of justice have been met,” Cobb County prosecutors said in a motion filed after a meeting with Patel and the child’s mother, Caroline Miller, earlier this week.
Judge Gregory Poole granted the motion without objection.
“I believe it’s in the court’s discretion, and obviously that’s fine with me, knowing what I’ve seen in the matter,” Poole said. “I appreciate the state looking into it.”
Surveillance Footage Challenged Original Claims
The case drew media attention after Patel’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, released surveillance video which she said clearly demonstrated her client’s innocence. The video showed Patel briefly interacting with the mother and her children, then quickly backing away after what Merchant described as a misunderstood interaction.
“He immediately backs up and puts his hands in his pockets when she leans back,” Merchant said during a May bond hearing, asserting that Patel had merely asked for help locating Tylenol for his mother and offered to hold the child while the mother pointed out the item.
During that hearing, the prosecutor, Jesse Evans, acknowledged that the video captured Patel tugging on the child’s leg while the boy sat on his mother’s lap, describing it as a “very bizarre set of circumstances.” Evans also said Miller had been “deferential to the state” throughout the investigation.
Patel Spent Over Six Weeks in Jail
Following his arrest, Patel was held in custody for more than six weeks before being released on a $10,000 bond on May 6. A jury trial had been scheduled for August 18, but that proceeding will no longer move forward following the case’s dismissal.
As reported by ABC News, the case initially stirred fears of child abduction but eventually raised questions about surveillance interpretation, cultural misunderstanding, and prosecutorial discretion.
Case Now Closed, But Questions Remain
Though no wrongdoing was found on Patel’s part, the unusual chain of events has prompted wider discussions about how quickly such incidents can escalate into serious legal consequences.
Merchant has continued to maintain her client’s innocence, saying the entire ordeal stemmed from a miscommunication and lack of context.
“This man was simply trying to be helpful,” she told reporters. “He never should have been jailed in the first place.”
What’s your take on how this case unfolded? Let us know in the comments.
