What was supposed to be a simple trip to Walmart turned into a nightmare for 57-year-old Mahendra Patel.
Accused of attempting to kidnap a toddler, Patel found himself behind bars for over a month—until surveillance footage painted a very different picture of what actually happened in the store aisle.
An Interaction That Sparked a Storm
Back in March, Patel approached a young mother, 26-year-old Caroline Miller, inside a Walmart in Acton, Georgia.
According to Miller, Patel tried to snatch her two-year-old son after asking where to find Tylenol.
She described it as a terrifying “tug of war” with a stranger over her child.
But things didn’t quite add up once the store’s security cameras were reviewed.
Surveillance Footage Tells Another Story
The video footage appears to contradict Miller’s dramatic claims.
Rather than a struggle, Patel is seen simply talking to Miller while she directs him toward the Tylenol aisle.
Moments later, she is seen chatting and laughing with another shopper, which seemed inconsistent with her account of a harrowing kidnapping attempt.
Patel told authorities he wasn’t trying to grab the boy—he was trying to help him.
The child had lost his balance on a motorized shopping cart, and Patel says he instinctively reached out to prevent him from falling.
A Judge Weighs In and Sets Bail
This week, a judge reviewed the case and agreed there was enough doubt to release Patel on bail.
He was granted bond at $10,000 after nearly six weeks in jail—including his 57th birthday.
His attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, said Patel did what any caring parent would have done—acted on instinct to prevent a child from getting hurt.
The case has sparked a lot of attention online, with many questioning the motives behind the original accusation.
Questions About the Mother’s Account
Beyond the footage, more details have raised eyebrows.
For instance, Miller didn’t scream, call for help, or report the incident to police immediately.
It wasn’t until five minutes later that she told a Walmart employee—and police weren’t called until some time after that.
Even more telling: another shopper can be seen in the footage helping Miller’s kids when they fell off the cart—something Patel also did.
Despite all this, Miller has taken her version of events to multiple media outlets.
Past Allegations and Legal History Surface
During the court hearing, prosecutors mentioned a previous arrest Patel had from 2006 for a white-collar crime.
His lawyer countered that he had cooperated with investigators and repaid all damages.
The prosecution also mentioned an old DUI arrest—though Patel was never convicted.
Meanwhile, the defense pointed out that Miller herself has a history of litigation.
In fact, she currently has a pending lawsuit against Lyft, alleging a driver assaulted her in 2021.
Family and Friends Speak Out
Those close to Patel have rallied behind him.
A family friend told DailyMail.com they were shocked by the arrest and felt it was completely out of character.
“There’s just absolutely no way he would do something like that,” they said.
According to them, Patel was simply trying to find Tylenol for his 86-year-old mother, who takes it twice daily.
His wife has been devastated by the ordeal, choosing to remain silent as the family struggles through the humiliation and stress of the accusations.
Behind Bars and Under Threat
Even though Patel is now out on bail, his time in jail was anything but easy.
According to his lawyer, he was subjected to threats and was emotionally and physically distressed due to the nature of the accusation.
“People in jail don’t take kindly to child-related charges,” Merchant explained.
Police Push Back Against Video Evidence
Despite the growing support for Patel and the released footage, the Acworth Police Department is standing firm.
They claim the video shared by Patel’s legal team was edited and doesn’t reflect the full interaction.
However, they declined to release their own version of the footage to the public or the press.
Merchant insists the full video makes it abundantly clear what happened—and that there’s no sign of a kidnapping attempt.
Support Builds for Patel
Public opinion seems to be shifting in Patel’s favor.
A Change.org petition has gathered signatures, with supporters expressing outrage over the accusations and calling for accountability.
Comments range from praise for Patel’s character to criticism of how the case was handled.
One supporter wrote, “I’ve left my kids with him many times. He’s the exact opposite of what he’s being accused of.”
Others voiced concern that this case might discourage good-hearted people from stepping in to help when it’s genuinely needed.
What Comes Next?
While Patel is finally out of jail, his legal battle isn’t over.
The case is still pending, and questions remain—particularly about why such a serious accusation was made in the first place and how the investigation unfolded.
For now, the video evidence appears to support Patel’s account, but with the police maintaining their stance and the case still active, the road ahead may still be long.