A Georgia woman has been arrested after allegedly leaving her six-month-old baby with employees at an auto shop, then returning with a knife and demanding that they hand the child back. Laraven Davis, 35, was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center following the incident over the weekend.
Shop employees reportedly became concerned about the infant’s condition after Davis left her there, prompting them to call emergency services. The incident happened around 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at a Jiffy Lube on Floyd Road in Cobb County. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, assistant manager Jarayya Mayes was starting her shift when Davis approached the service bays with a stroller. Mayes said she had seen Davis around nearby businesses before but had never spoken to her.
The baby was reportedly wearing heavily soiled clothing
Davis initially struck up a casual conversation with the employees, asking them to admire her baby. But the exchange took an unexpected turn when she said she had somewhere urgent to go. She reportedly told the workers to take custody of the infant if she did not come back, adding that the necessary paperwork was inside the diaper bag.
Davis then left the shop, leaving the baby behind. Mayes recognized the situation as a possible case of child abandonment and called 911. While waiting for officers, employees checked on the infant. They reportedly found her wearing heavily soiled clothing, with a soaked diaper and visible rashes around her neck and torso.
About 15 minutes after the emergency call began, Davis returned to the property. This time, employees said, she was agitated and carrying a knife. She demanded that they give her the baby back, reportedly claiming that a dangerous incident had taken place nearby and that she needed to get the child out of the area.
The dispatcher could hear the confrontation over the phone and told employees to keep Davis there until police arrived. Cobb County officers reached the shop shortly afterward, disarmed her and took her into custody. No injuries to employees were reported.
Paramedics later took the six-month-old girl to a local medical center for an examination. Police said she had a severe diaper rash and was wearing soiled clothing, but was otherwise in stable condition.
The entire family is being investigated
Investigators found that Davis had no local relatives who could take responsibility for the baby. The child was therefore placed in the custody of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
Davis remains in custody on a $4,620 bond. She faces misdemeanor charges of child abandonment and reckless conduct. Authorities have not disclosed what prompted her to leave the infant at the shop or what led to the confrontation when she returned. The investigation into the family’s welfare is ongoing.
Published: Oct 30, 2026 03:45 pm