A former Alpharetta daycare owner was indicted on second-degree murder and child cruelty charges in the July death of a 3-year-old in her care, according to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
Janna Thompson was indicted as a result of the death of Thomas Maxwell Stephens, of Roswell, who died July 9 of asphyxia, or lack of oxygen, a day after he was found with twine wrapped around his neck on the playground of his daycare, according to police.
Thompson previously operated Ms. Janna's Daycare at her home, but her state license was suspended in the weeks after the boy's death. On the morning of July 8, Thompson told police she left Max outside alone while she disciplined another child inside, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. When she returned outside, Max had a piece of twine around his neck and was not breathing, she told police.
Thompson gave the boy CPR and called 911, but Max died the following day at the hospital, in his mother’s arms.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) began an investigation within hours of the incident on the playground, and the center was closed due to state rules violations.
The morning of the incident, Thompson allegedly had seven children in her care, though she was allowed by state law to care for only six, according to DECAL. She also allegedly left two infants and a toddler inside her home while she took three toddlers and a preschool-age child outside, the court order to close the center stated.
“While the children were playing, one toddler began misbehaving,” the document stated. “The Provider took this child inside leaving three children unsupervised on the playground. While inside, the Provider used the restroom, received a phone call and made a phone call.”
After an “undetermined amount of time later,” Thompson returned outside, where she found the injured boy laying flat on the slide, according to DECAL.
Thompson had not been charged in connection to the boy's death until her indictment. But in August, Max's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Thompson, seeking unspecified damages.
Thompson was not in custody Friday evening.
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