Ga. daycare owner accused of lying about girl left in van

AUSTELL, Ga. (AP) Metro Atlanta police say a daycare owner is accused of lying about how long a 2-year-old girl was left alone in a hot van.

Cobb County police said Tuesday that Melinda Hamilton is charged with reckless conduct, giving false statements and tampering with evidence.

A warrant says an employee who was about to pick children up after school in the daycare's van told Hamilton about the girl in the backseat. Police say Hamilton didn't seek medical help and wrote a false statement to the Georgia Division of Family and Child Services.

Police say Hamilton lied to the girl's mother about how long she was in the van and another employee told her the truth.

It's unclear if Hamilton has an attorney and a phone number is not listed for her.