The former daycare owner accused in a 3-year-old’s hanging death won’t fight to keep her license, the state agency that monitors childcare facilities said Monday.
Janna Thompson, of Alpharetta, withdrew her appeal to her license revocation, meaning a Nov. 13 hearing won’t take place, a spokesman for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning said.
Thompson was charged with two counts of murder in the second degree and cruelty to children in the second degree earlier this month and booked into the Fulton County jail. Thompson surrendered following a grand jury indictment in the July death of Max Stephens, of Roswell.
Thompson, the previous owner and sole operator of Miss Janna’s Daycare, told police she left Max and two other children outside on July 8 while she disciplined other children inside and made a phone call.
When Thompson returned outside, she found Max unresponsive on the slide with a piece of twine around his neck, according to police. Thompson administered CPR and called 911, but Max died the following day from asphyxia due to hanging.
Thompson was charged with second-degree murder, a law that went into effect July 1 in Georgia. She was released from jail after posting $75,000 bond.
The Roswell boy’s death at the in-home daycare came less than six months after the home’s playground was deemed unsafe during an inspection, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning records showed.
The daycare, which was licensed to provide care for up to six children, was ordered to close after the boy’s death. At the time Max was found on the slide, Thompson had seven children in her care, according to DECAL.
Thompson had filed an appeal to keep her license, but her attorney withdrew that appeal.
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