Prosecutor: Mother left son inside hot car intentionally

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Home security video contradicted claims by the mother of a 3-year-old boy who died after being left inside a hot car for more than seven hours, a Fulton County police detective testified Tuesday.

Lillian Stone was indicted on murder charges in court Tuesday morning.

Stone told Det. Jamie Gore she left her son, Melvin, inside the car around 12:20 p.m. on Halloween, but security footage from Stone’s home shows the child had been inside the vehicle since a little after 8 a.m., according to investigators.

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“She wasn’t counting on, or she didn’t know, there was surveillance video,” said prosecutor Michael Sprinkel. “With the inconsistencies in her statement, it does not appear this was simply an accident.”

Stone is charged with malice murder, felony murder and one count of cruelty to children. The judge granted Stone a bond of $75,000 over the state's objections.

Cox Media Group