Former day care owner won’t take stand in murder trial

The former owner of an Alpharetta day care charged with second-degree murder won’t be testifying in her trial.

Janna Thompson, 58, is accused of leaving 3-year-old Max Stephens alone for 18 minutes on July 8, 2014, allowing the boy to hang himself on a piece of a twine. Max died the following day.

But jurors heard from Thompson in audio recordings from her interviews with police.

“In my heart and mind I know I didn’t do anything intentional that day,” Thompson said. “I’ve never had an incident in my home, but that’s not because I’m an awesome daycare provider. It’s because I believe God built a hedge of protection around my home.”

Thompson’s attorneys have said the boy’s death was a freak accident. Prosecutors have said Thompson was using her phone to look up college football schedules inside her home while three children were outside.

Closing statements are expected Friday morning in the case. If convicted, Thompson could be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.