Father Charged After 2-Year-Old Left Alone for Hours

Police Say a Sick Toddler Was Left Alone

A Georgia father has been charged with second-degree murder after police say his 2-year-old son, who was sick and refusing to eat, was left alone in an apartment for about six hours. The child was found unresponsive on Sept. 3 and later died at a hospital.

Lolo Anilus, 39, was arrested after Cobb County police reviewed the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death. He also faces second-degree cruelty to children and false-statements charges and is being held without bond.

Officers Were Called to the Apartment That Night

Police responded around 8:35 p.m. to the Legacy at West Cobb Apartments on Favor Road after receiving a report of an unresponsive child. Officers began providing aid before the boy was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The child’s name has not been publicly released. Authorities have kept details limited while the investigation remains active.

An Arrest Warrant Described the Child as Ill

Atlanta News First reported that an arrest warrant said the toddler had a fever and mouth pain and had been refusing to eat. Investigators allege Anilus nevertheless left him alone for roughly six hours.

The warrant also says Anilus initially told officers he had been asleep inside the home. Investigators allege video evidence and an interview with his daughter contradicted that account. The false-statements charge stems from what police say was inaccurate information given during the investigation.

Negligence Became the Basis for the Charge

Cobb County police initially described finding what they called elements of negligence during the investigation. That finding led detectives to seek the warrant that resulted in the murder and child-cruelty charges.

Second-degree murder cases involving alleged neglect differ from cases in which prosecutors claim a deliberate attack. The precise legal theory will be developed in court, and Anilus is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Investigators Say Video Contradicted His Account

The false-statements charge grew from a specific conflict between what Anilus allegedly told officers and what investigators say they later found. According to the arrest warrant reported by Atlanta News First, Anilus said he had been asleep in the home. Police say video evidence and an interview with his daughter showed otherwise and indicated he had left the apartment.

That contradiction became important because investigators were trying to establish who was responsible for the toddler during the hours before he was found unresponsive. The warrant alleges that the child was alone for about six hours while already showing signs of illness.

Police Have Not Released the Child’s Identity

Authorities have not publicly named the 2-year-old, and the available reporting provides only limited information about his condition before the emergency call. The warrant says he had a fever, mouth pain and was refusing to eat. Police have not released a complete medical history or publicly described the precise cause of death.

Keeping those details limited is especially important because the victim was a young child and the investigation is ongoing. The case can be understood without adding unverified assumptions about the boy’s medical condition or what he experienced while he was alone.

The Charges Center on Alleged Neglect Rather Than an Intentional Attack

Police have characterized the case around alleged negligence. Anilus faces second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children rather than a charge that necessarily alleges a planned assault. The exact elements prosecutors intend to prove will become clearer in court filings.

That legal distinction does not lessen the seriousness of the accusation, but it matters for accuracy. Investigators are alleging that a parent’s failure to provide appropriate care contributed to the child’s death. Anilus has not been convicted, and the state will have to establish both the underlying conduct and the required legal standard beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Investigation Is Still Open

Police have asked anyone with relevant information to contact the Cobb County Major Crimes Unit. Authorities have not publicly released a complete medical timeline or additional details explaining how they believe the period alone contributed to the child’s death.

The case now turns on evidence about what happened during those hours, what the father knew about the toddler’s condition and whether prosecutors can prove the elements of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the child’s family, those questions come after the most painful fact is already settled: a 2-year-old who needed care was found unresponsive in his home and did not survive.

References: CBS Atlanta - Father Charged in 2-Year-Old’s Death | Atlanta News First - Cobb County Father Arrested

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