Woman Who Left Child At Atlanta Airport Being Evaluated: Police

ATHENS, GA -- People who know Miranda Hakimi Harvey said that it is highly out of character that she would leave her child with strangers at the busiest airport in the world -- then walk away. But that is exactly what she is alleged to have done, according to authorities.

Authorities said that Harvey, drove more than 700 miles from Odenton, Maryland to Atlanta, arriving at the airport Thursday evening. She reportedly asked a random couple to look after her 4-year-old girl so that she could go shopping. The thing is, Harvey never returned. After asked a random couple to watch the girl while she went shopping. Police said Harvey never came back. After several hours, the couple called the authorities.

"Missing mother, Ms. Harvey, located in Athens, Georgia. She is unharmed but being evaluated by a local health care provider," Atlanta police spokesman Warren Pickard tweeted Sunday. SIGN UP: To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Athens Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

Harvey was found over the weekend at an Athens hotel after a guest recognized her from news reports and called 911. She is currently being evaluated by authorities, who added that she is OK "but somewhat confused about what occurred the last 24 hours," according to WXIA-TV.

Police are trying to make contact with family members in Maryland, the station reports.

Many questions remain unanswered in the bizarre case, namely what why would a mother drive herself and her child several hours down South to purportedly catch a plane?

Harvey’s cousin, Amanda Hakimi, told local media that what happened is totally not like Harvey. “She’s a wonderful mother,” Halimi said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “What happened was a surprise for everyone.”

The cousin said that Harvey is a 2010 University of Georgia graduate who was reared in Gwinnett County.

Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez said a guest at The Graduate Hotel notified authorities of Harvey's whereabouts. When authorities arrived at the hotel and talked to Harvey, they knew something was wrong. “At that point, they realized that she seemed to be disheveled, she seemed to be confused, gave her medical treatment as far as calling an ambulance,” Rodriguez told WSB-TV.

Her cousin said that Harvey recently lost her father and may be spiraling out of control because of her grief.

It remains to be seen if Atlanta police will bring criminal charges against Harvey.

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