Mum claims man attempted to kidnap her toddler during grocery shop

“This video is very clear that incident did not happen at all.” 

A woman’s abduction claims have come completely undone after she accused an elderly man of attempting to snatch her two-year-old son.  

Last month, Caroline Miller was shopping with Jude, and her four-year-old daughter, when a 56-year-old man approached the family. 

The mum was using a Walmart mobility scooter. Her son sat balanced on her lap , while her daughter walked beside her. 

Miller alleges the man, Mahendra Patel, distracted her with asking for directions to the painkillers aisle so that he could kidnap her toddler.  

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Mum and accused man in "tug of war" with child

“'When I pointed my arm out this way to say this is where it was, that is when he reached down, put both of his hands on Jude, and grabbed him out of my lap,' Miller told WSB-TV last month. 

She claims she immediately sprang to action trying to free her toddler, describing it as a “tug of war” between them. 

Three days later Patel was arrested and charged for attempted kidnapping, assault and battery. 

He has now spent nearly a month behind bars - but his attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, found CCTV footage that “proves her client is innocent.”

Merchant shared the footage with the local news station, describing the man as a “friendly older gentleman” who was only trying to help. 

“This kidnapping of a minor bell was rung,” she explained to WSB-TV.

“'This video is very clear that did not happen.” 

The mother claimed the pair had a child "tug-of-war". Image: WSB-TV

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"We can no longer help handicapped people is what this is saying"

The lawyer argues Patel thought the child was falling from his mother’s lap and made an attempt to balance him, after asking for directions to the painkillers. 

Footage shows no sign of altercation between the two, but rather a friendly interaction, as Patel proceeds to go about his business in the store. 

"We can no longer help handicapped people is what this is saying,” Merchant argued.  

Miller has clarified she was using the store issued scooter because her children wanted to ride it and not because of a disability. 

At one point she appears to even run over her four-year-old’s foot, prompting another shopper to help her once again. The mother has declined to make any comment about the security footage. 

He is currently awaiting trial with his attorney pushing for the judge to grant him bond while they wait. The prosecutors need to drop all charges for the case to be dismissed. 

Originally published as Mum claims man attempted to kidnap her toddler during grocery shop