The recent case of Mahendra Patel, a 56-year-old real estate investor accused of attempted kidnapping at a Walmart in Acworth, Georgia, has captured public attention.
The situation has shifted significantly in Patel’s favour after surveillance footage surfaced, suggesting he may have been wrongly accused.
With Patel now out on bond and questions rising around the accuser’s credibility, this case reveals the complexity of public trust, law enforcement response, and the justice system.
Who is Mahendra Patel and What Was He Accused Of?
In March 2025, Mahendra Patel was arrested and jailed after Caroline Miller, a 26-year-old mother, claimed he tried to kidnap her 2-year-old son.
According to her police report, Patel allegedly reached for her son and caused her to fear for their safety. Patel was charged with attempted kidnapping, simple battery, and simple assault.
Miller said Patel approached her inside Walmart and tugged at her son. However, the story changed when Patel’s legal team presented surveillance video that contradicted her claims.
Surveillance Footage Paints a Different Picture
The video footage from the store shows Patel walking calmly, asking Miller for help in finding Tylenol. Miller, riding a motorized cart, had her baby in her arms and her toddler near her feet. She appears to direct Patel towards the medicine aisle.
The critical moment when she says Patel tried to grab her son shows no such struggle in the video. There’s no clear attempt to snatch the child. In fact, Patel seems to gesture politely and later even shows her the Tylenol, receiving a thumbs-up in return.
The footage also shows Miller running into shelves with her cart near the pharmacy area and accidentally rolling over her child’s foot, which adds more confusion to her credibility.
A Look Into Caroline Miller’s Past
Patel’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, revealed that Miller has a long history with police – more than 20 reports in the last seven years. One notable past case involved a rape accusation against a Lyft driver in 2019.
That case didn’t result in any criminal charges, although Miller later joined a class-action lawsuit against the rideshare company. Merchant used this background to show that Miller has a record of making serious allegations that haven’t held up.
Public Opinion Backs Patel
Once the video was made public, support for Patel grew rapidly. A petition calling for his release collected over 47,000 signatures. Many local residents expressed outrage online, criticising the police and demanding justice for Patel.
Even the judge who granted Patel bond noted he had no violent criminal background. Patel was finally released on a $10,000 bond after spending 45 days in jail.
Prosecutors Stay Silent as Pressure Mounts
Despite the video evidence, the Cobb County District Attorney’s office hasn’t dropped the case. They released a statement saying that bond decisions don’t affect how they prosecute. However, many legal experts say the burden is now on the DA’s office to review the case carefully and not pursue charges blindly.
Patel’s Hope for the Future
Now out of jail, Patel expressed his gratitude toward his daughter and legal team. He remains hopeful that justice will prevail and he will be fully cleared. While no trial date has been set, the situation is being closely watched by both the public and legal observers.