Georgia’s dad who left children at McDonald’s was not on a job interview: Police

When a father in Georgia was arrested after claiming to leave his young children without supervision at a McDonald’s, he received a swell from support online after telling deputies that he had been on a job interview. But now the police say he was not on a job interview after all.

Chris Louis, 24, was arrested in Augusta, Ga., March 22 after his children, 10, 6 and 1, were at McDonald’s for over an hour, says Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Louis was charged with deprivation of a minor, a wrongdoing.

When reports of his arrest circulated, Louis support grew, with many online who claimed he had tried to support his children by going to a job interview.

Former NFL star Antonio Brown started a gofundme on Loui’s behalf, which has so far collected over $ 78,000.

“The story caught me surprisingly,” Brown wrote. “A father who is just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he should not only leave his children, but some people do not have means for childcare, etc. This gofundme is in place to help this man.”

But in a police report obtained by people, the authorities now say that Louis was not at a job interview while his children were at McDonald’s. Rather, says the authorities, Louis had applied for a job earlier that day.

The police spoke to the oldest of Louis’s children after the incident.

“A 10-year-old child stated that she, her father (Chris Louis), and her two siblings had gone to McDonald’s from (an apartment complex),” police said in the report. “She further stated that her father left to deliver another backpack (apartment complex) and told her he would return soon. The child also mentioned that her father often left them alone.”

The police also went to the nearby inn where Louis said he had applied for a job.

Do you want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Register People’s free real crime news letter To break crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of exciting unresolved cases.

“(Inn boss) confirmed that Louis came in on March 22, 2025, completing a job application,” police said. “She also conducted an informal interview with him on that date. On the question of whether Mr. Louis would expect a call for a formal interview, she said no.”

Police claim that security films showed that Louis left the inn hours before his child was eventually found at McDonald’s afternoon.

“Based on the video certificate and the timeline from all parties involved, it was established that Louis was not involved in a job interview or application process during the time the children were left unattended,” said Sheriff’s office. “In addition, through his own recognition, he went between McDonald’s and (an apartment complex) on foot during that period.”