An arrest warrant alleges the child was left alone for about six hours before officers found him unresponsive Sept. 3.
MARIETTA, Ga. — A Cobb County father faces second-degree murder and child cruelty charges after authorities alleged he left his sick 2-year-old son alone for about six hours before the child was found unresponsive and later died at a hospital.
Lolo Anilus, 39, was arrested after Cobb County police investigated the Sept. 3 death and said they found evidence of negligence. Police charged him with second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to children and making false statements. He remained held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center as of the latest reports.
Officers were called to the Legacy at West Cobb Apartments on Favor Road at about 8:36 p.m. Sept. 3 after receiving a report of an unresponsive 2-year-old boy, police said. Officers found the child unresponsive and began providing aid before he was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation later focused on the circumstances before officers arrived. According to an arrest warrant cited by local news organizations, the child had been showing signs of illness, including a fever and mouth pain, and had refused to eat. Investigators alleged that Anilus left the boy unattended for roughly six hours, from about 2 p.m. until shortly after 8 p.m.
The warrant alleges that the toddler was unable to care for his basic needs while he was alone, including getting food or receiving medical attention. Authorities contend that the alleged lack of supervision contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death. The accusations are allegations, and Anilus has not been convicted of the charges.
Investigators also accused Anilus of giving authorities an account that did not match evidence gathered during the investigation. The warrant says he initially told investigators he had been home sleeping with the child. Authorities said surveillance video and information obtained during an interview with Anilus’ daughter contradicted that account. The discrepancy is tied to the false-statement charge filed against him.
Cobb County police initially described their investigation as having uncovered “elements of negligence.” The department’s Major Crimes Unit handled the case and obtained an arrest warrant for Anilus. Police have not publicly released the child’s name.
The Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office has not publicly released additional findings about the child’s death while the investigation remains pending. Authorities have not announced a detailed medical cause of death in the reports reviewed, leaving an important part of the case unresolved as the criminal proceedings move forward.
Online jail records cited in local reporting also showed that Anilus was being held on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security detainer. Court records reviewed by local media had not listed an attorney for him at the time of publication. No plea or trial date was reported.
Cobb County police said the investigation remains active. The murder, child cruelty and false-statement charges are pending, and additional details about the child’s death and the evidence in the case may emerge through the continuing investigation and court process.
Author note: Last updated September 11, 2026.