Missing child and mother reunite

ATLANTA — A big smile filled the tiny face of Malachi Burley as he sat in his mother's arms outside their southeast Atlanta apartment Friday morning.

The 1 1/2-year-old toddler is back home after he was missing for 11 days.

The child's mother spoke with Channel 2's Tom Regan about her joyous reunion with Malachi.

"What's it like to be with your son again?" Regan asked Malachi's mother, Laquanda Burley.

"It's so wonderful. I'm glad he's been found," Burley said.

Following a tip, Atlanta police located the toddler and a woman that was supposed to be taking care of the child in at a MARTA transit station Thursday night.

The woman, Sylvia Franklin, befriended the child's mother and had watched over the young boy before.

But Burley said after she turned her baby over to Franklin in late November, the caregiver did not respond to texts and welfare checks on the child.

Burley said the uncertainty of not knowing if her child was safe was agonizing.

"She had kept him before, but on this particular time, she didn't call. None of that. I was just trying to see what was going on. To know that he was in no danger or harm," said Burley

Burley said she had no idea where her child was staying over the 11 days. She said the toddler showed no sign of abuse.

Even so, she believes Franklin was neglectful in caring for Malachi and should face criminal charges. At this time, police said they have no plans to bring charges in the case.

The child's mother said she wanted to express her thanks to police and others who helped find her child.

WSBTV