The Georgia dad who went viral for leaving his kids unattended at McDonald’s is in the news again. Earlier this week, people rallied around the man who claimed he left his three children at the restaurant playground to attend a job interview, raising money through a crowdfunding campaign. But now police say he “was not engaged in a job interview or application process” while his three children were left alone.

George Louis, 24, was arrested in Augusta on March 22 for deprivation of a minor after leaving the kids, ages 1, 6, and 10, alone at McDonald’s for a few hours. The Augusta Press reported that Louis had told police he was at a job interview. This caused an outpouring of support online from people who justified the man’s decision in order to improve his situation. 

Police are now saying the job interview story was untrue after they spoke to the eldest of Louis’ children following the incident.

“A 10-year-old child, stated that she, her father (Chris Louis), and her two siblings had walked to McDonald’s from [an apartment complex],” the report said, per People. “She further stated that her father left to deliver a backpack to [the apartment complex] and told her he would return shortly. The child also mentioned that her father frequently left them alone.”

Two witnesses said they heard Louis on the phone about 4:30 p.m. say he had to “drop something off.” This item was later stated to be a black backpack. Louis said “he lost his ID and another card and had been retracing his steps to find them,” per a statement from Capt. Danny Whitehead of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Field Operations Division.

Law enforcement also visited the location when Louis said he applied for a job.

 “[The West Bank Inn manager] confirmed that Mr. Louis came in on March 22, 2025, and completed a job application,” police said. “She also conducted an informal interview with him on that date. When asked if Mr. Louis would be expecting a callback for a formal interview, she stated no,” the report continued. 

Police also questioned the timeline, saying security footage showed Louis leaving the West Bank Inn three hours before his children were observed alone at the McDonald’s.

“Based on the video evidence and the timeline provided by all parties involved, it was determined that Mr. Louis was not engaged in a job interview or application process during the time the children were left unattended,” the sheriff’s office reportedly said. “Furthermore, by his own admission, he was walking between McDonald’s and [an apartment complex] on foot during that period.”

The misdemeanor charge of deprivation of a minor “was appropriate to ensure the welfare of the children and facilitate a review of the matter by the court,” Whitehead concluded.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown started a GoFundMe to help Louis’ cause.

“Story caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the means for babysitting, etc,” Brown wrote on GoFundMe, which is titled “Pursuit of Happiness.” 

As of Friday morning, the campaign had raised more than $83,000.