Georgia Mother Faces Child Abandonment and Reckless Conduct Charges After Police Say She Tried to Leave Infant at Mableton Auto Shop

MABLETON, GA — A Georgia woman is facing child abandonment and reckless conduct charges after police say she tried to leave her 6-month-old child with workers at a Mableton Jiffy Lube. Cobb County police said officers were called to the auto maintenance store on Floyd Road on the morning of Oct. 24 after employees reported the attempted abandonment.

Investigators identified the woman as Laraven Davis. Police said the infant was found wearing soiled clothes and had multiple rashes, though officers also described the child as being in overall good health. The baby was taken to a local hospital for treatment and later placed in the custody of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.

Employees alerted police after a woman tried to leave the infant behind

The police response began after Jiffy Lube employees contacted authorities and reported that a woman had attempted to leave a 6-month-old child with them. Cobb County police said the incident happened at the location on the 5500 block of Floyd Road, which sits in the Mableton area of Cobb County.

Officers arrived that morning and investigated the complaint. Authorities have not publicly described what was said between Davis and employees, but the account from police indicates the child was being left at the business without staff agreeing to care for the baby.

Child abandonment cases often depend on the circumstances of the attempted handoff, including whether a parent or guardian made arrangements with another adult. In this case, police have said only that employees reported the attempt and that investigators later filed charges.

Police say the baby had soiled clothing and several rashes

Cobb County police said investigators found the infant in soiled clothes and noted multiple rashes. Despite those conditions, officers said the baby was in overall good health.

The child was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment before being turned over to state child welfare officials. That sequence suggests authorities moved quickly to make sure the infant was medically checked and then placed in protective custody.

Police did not say what may have caused the rashes or how long the baby had been in that condition. They also did not say whether any additional medical concerns were identified after the hospital visit.

Laraven Davis remains in custody at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center

Authorities said Davis is being held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. The arrest means the case is now moving through the county’s criminal justice system, with the charges of child abandonment and reckless conduct pending against her.

Police have not released further details about Davis’s arrest beyond the allegations tied to the Mableton incident. It is also not clear from the information provided whether she has entered a plea or has appeared in court.

Those charges reflect law enforcement’s view that the attempted abandonment and the child’s condition created a serious risk. For now, however, the county has disclosed only the booking status and the accusations filed by investigators.

State child welfare officials took custody after the hospital visit

After treatment at the local hospital, the infant was placed with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. That step typically means the child is now under state supervision while officials decide on next placement and longer-term care.

Police did not say whether family members have sought custody or whether the child will remain with the agency temporarily. The public information released so far focuses on the immediate safety response rather than the family’s broader situation.

In cases like this, child welfare officials often work alongside law enforcement and medical staff to determine what is best for the child. Here, the hospital evaluation and the transfer to state custody were the main immediate outcomes described by authorities.

The incident drew attention because it happened at a busy auto shop

The attempted abandonment took place at a Jiffy Lube, an everyday business where employees were unexpectedly put in the middle of a child welfare emergency. That setting helped turn a private family crisis into a public police call in the middle of a workday.

Authorities have not said why Davis went to the auto service location or whether the employees knew her before the incident. They also have not said how long the interaction lasted before police were called.

What investigators have made clear is that the store staff did not simply ignore the situation. Instead, they reported it to police, setting off the response that led to the child’s medical evaluation and Davis’s arrest.