The Augusta Press’ viral story on the arrest of Chris Louis for leaving three kids at a local McDonald’s to go job hunting has sparked debate and sympathy across the country.
On Wednesday, in response to an outcry of requests from local and national media, Richmond County authorities released a full report Wednesday with more details into their investigation, saying that the father was not really looking for a job while the children were at McDonald’s. But he had been job hunting earlier that day.
Louis, a 24-year-old father from Augusta, Georgia, was arrested on March 22 after leaving his three children—ages 10, 6, and 1—at a McDonald’s with a playground , telling deputies that he was attending a job interview nearby. Louis, who did not have a car, walked his children to the McDonald’s and felt it was a safer place to leave them for the short time he would be at the interview. After he returned to pick them up, a customer at the McDonald’s called the police, and Louis was arrested and charged with “deprivation of a minor.”
Capt. Danny Whitehead conducted a follow-up investigation and “noted inconsistencies regarding the whereabouts” of Louis during the period when the children were left unattended at the restaurant.
The 10-year-old child told officers that she, her father and her two siblings had walked to McDonald’s from The Hendrix Apartments. She said left to deliver a backpack to The Hendrix Apartments and told her he would return shortly. The child also mentioned that her father frequently left them alone.
Two witnesses both reported arriving at the restaurant at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday and observing the children there without adult supervision. They recalled that the father was on the phone with someone and was overheard saying he needed to “drop something off.” The witnesses stated that after this, the father left McDonald’s, leaving the children behind. They estimated the children were alone for approximately an hour and a half.
The 10-year-old daughter contacted her mother on social media at approximately 6 p.m.. The mother, Lissette Pichardo, arrived at McDonald’s at approximately 6:12 p.m.
“She advised that Mr. Louis was supposed to deliver a backpack to her mother at The Hendrix Apartments and had been told that he must take the children with him,” a sheriff’s report says. “Pichardo immediately called Mr. Louis, who answered and stated that he was on his way back to McDonald’s from The Hendrix.”
Louis arrived at McDonald’s at approximately 6:18 p.m., still in possession of the backpack. He told Pichardo that he had been trying to find her to give her the backpack. She reminded him that he was not supposed to leave the children unattended.
Louis claimed he and the children were at McDonald’s earlier that day because he had filled out a job application at the West Bank Inn, located adjacent to McDonald’s, and was waiting for a callback for a possible interview. He said he left to deliver the backpack to The Hendrix, but during that time, he lost his ID and another card and had been retracing his steps to find them.
To verify this, Capt. Whitehead visited the West Bank Inn and spoke with the manager. She confirmed that Louis came in on March 22 and completed a job application. She also conducted an informal interview with him on that date. When asked if Louis would be expecting a callback for a formal interview, she stated no. The manager provided video surveillance footage showing Louis arriving at 1:12 p.m. and leaving at 1:37 p.m. on March 22.
Based on the video evidence and the timeline provided by all parties involved, it was determined that Louis was not engaged in a job interview or application process during the time the children were left unattended.
“Furthermore, by his own admission, he was walking between McDonald’s and The Hendrix Apartments on foot during that period,” a report says. “The distance between these two locations is approximately 0.4 miles.”
It was determined that a misdemeanor charge of deprivation of a minor was appropriate to ensure the welfare of the children and facilitate a review of the matter by the court, the sheriff’s office said. This charge ensures that all parties have an opportunity to appear before a judge to determine if the children are receiving appropriate care.
Louis’ arrest has sparked widespread public outcry nationwide, with many arguing that he should not be criminally charged for trying to provide for his family. The case has garnered attention from people on both sides of the political spectrum, with former NFL player Antonio Brown, setting up a GoFundMe campaign to help Louis. The campaign has raised over $39,000, with contributions coming from people who sympathize with Louis’ situation and believe the system unfairly punishes those in poverty.
Many supporters have expressed frustration over the cost of living and the challenges faced by low-income families. The story went viral on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), drawing attention to the broader issue of poverty and the difficulties of escaping it in the U.S.
The post RCSO Releases New Details on Man’s Arrest After Leaving Kids at McDonald’s to Go Job Hunting appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.