Man arrested after 4-year-old found walking alone on street in Montezuma

Police were notified by a concerned citizen that a 4-year-old girl was walking on Gray Street in Montezuma around 11:53 p.m. by herself on February 13.

February 19, 2025

Monica Diaz-Meek,

MONTEZUMA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man was arrested Thursday night after his 4-year-old child was found walking alone on the street while left unattended at home, according to the Montezuma Police Department.

Police were notified by a concerned citizen that a 4-year-old girl was walking on Gray Street in Montezuma around 11:53 p.m. by herself on February 13.

The Montezuma Police Department made contact with the child and officers took the child to her residence. Officers noticed that no adult was present at the residence.

According to the news release, officers noticed a vehicle in the yard and ran the tag on the vehicle through the Middle Flint E911 Center and asked the dispatcher to contact the owner of the vehicle. The Macon County Department of Family and Children Service was also contacted.

Officers made contact with the father, Cory Desmond Canady, who was working in Kathleen and later returned to residence. Canady stated that his girlfriend from the Atlanta area was supposed to be taking care of the child. Canady couldn’t provide any information on the female.

Officers ran all vehicles through the Flock Cameras described by the father and the vehicle did not appear in the system.

According to the news release, the Montezuma Police Department made contact with the Lighthouse Advocacy Center in Americus to schedule a forensic interview on the child. The interview was later conducted at the Valdosta Advocacy Center in Valdosta, near where the mother of the child resides. The child later disclosed that “she was home alone while her father was at work.”

Canady was charged with felony, cruelty to children, first degree, abandonment of a child, and false report of a crime. Canady was transported to the Macon County Jail.

“This is just unbelievable leaving a baby home alone,” said Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch. “Anything could have happened to that baby and I thank God that he had his arms wrapped around that child.”