Mother of toddler who fell to death is charged

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 3/5/02 | Ernie Suggs and Mike Morris

[madprof98]

The mother of a toddler killed Sunday when he fell from a balcony at a downtown Atlanta hotel has been charged with several misdemeanors, including possession of drugs, Atlanta police said Monday.

Sgt. John Quigley, a spokesman for the Atlanta Police Department, said alcohol and marijuana was found in the Omni Hotel rooms Donna Neel rented over the weekend. Neel, 29, of Savannah was charged with reckless conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, Quigley said Monday. All are misdemeanors.

Neel, the mother of the 20-month-old boy, had gone downstairs to get breakfast before 9:30 a.m. and had left several children in the room on the ninth floor of the hotel, said Atlanta police Sgt. J.Y. Sturdivant.

The toddler fell to the roof of a fourth-floor restaurant, Sturdivant said.

"He got out on the balcony through the door that was left ajar," Quigley said.Sturdivant said.

The boy, identified as Hunter Neel, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with severe injuries. He died later in the morning. Sturdivant said.

Quigley said Neel was in Atlanta visiting a friend. She had rented three rooms at the hotel and had left Hunter in the care of several teenagers. Sturdivant said.

Sturdivant said the child's father is in the military, but he was unsure where he is stationed. Sturdivant said.

The 467-room hotel is attached to the CNN Center, across the street from Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia World Congress Center. Sturdivant said.

Neel was given a copy of the charges. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 18.

[madprof98]

When the story first broke on FR, there was a big debate over parental responsibility for seeming "accidents" like this child's death. Evidently there was more to this than just bad luck.

[biblewonk]

It's hard to know when it's ok to leave a child with his older siblings and for how long.

[TXBubba]

Okay, I get the possession of drugs thing but how old were the teenagers who were "watching" the kiddo? Did they know they were watching the kid? Also, sounds like the hotel will be making modifications to it's balcony railings.

[Unknown Freeper]

Neel, the mother of the 20-month-old boy, had gone downstairs to get breakfast before 9:30 a.m

Uh... Isn't this a major hotel? Why couldn't she have ordered room service?

[OldFriend]

THE BABY IS DEAD........IF ONLY'S ARE IRRELEVANT!

[CJ Wolf]

because the morning buffet is free.

[katze]

Her husband may be asking the same question.

[TXBubba]

Probably because you have to be rich to get room service. Have you seen the prices on those menus? The article says she left the kid in the care of several teenagers. That doesn't sound neglectful to me - unless, they were asleep, drunk, drugged etc. All my babysitters are teenagers and I go further away than that with them in charge. I just think there is more to her actions than this report shows.

[VRWC_minion]

She had rented three rooms at the hotel and had left Hunter in the care of several teenagers.

This story gets wierd. What were the 3 rooms for ?

[laotzu]

I've long since realized that:
If I were sitting on my patio, drinking my rum, and; the engine off of a 747 fell from the sky and crushed me; it would be ruled as another alcohol related accident.

Not all demonized behavior is relevant.

[B-A-Grizzley]

Isn't this the hotel owned by Ted Turner?

[Bahbah]

LOL. Excellent comment, and I intend to use it, with attribution of course.

[phasma proeliator]

You are, unfortunately, correct.