An Illinois daycare worker was in child danger after allegedly leaving a 4-year-old boy in her care on an icy alley before planting him in a trash can.
Anna Petrou, 58, was arrested Thursday for leaving the toddler in the hallway outside Learning Lab Preschool & Child Care. According to the Homewood Police Department.
Police said it was about 19 degrees on the afternoon of Jan. 13 when the incident occurred.
According to police, the bad teacher was caught on video surveillance, took the child to the facility and placed him inside an empty trash can as a form of punishment in front of other children and teachers.
The boy's parents reported the incident to police after picking up their son from day care that day. ABC 7 reported.
“I was speechless, especially when I reviewed the tape,” his mother Monica Forte told the outlet, adding that her son is hanging on from the incident.
“And the first thing I did was, of course, I was crying. And I went to the police station.”
She accused Petrou of claiming her form of discipline was a joke. Forte said her children will not return to the day care center and she is considering legal action.
“He did nothing wrong,” Father Justin Burns told the outlet.
“It was much worse than I could have imagined. I'm worried about what he's feeling.”
Petrou was charged with endangering the life of a child, a misdemeanor, and was released from custody pending a future court date, authorities said.
The crazed caretaker was also fired from the school, along with a second employee who officials say did not intervene.
“We have attempted to work cooperatively and transparently with the family. Learning Lab is working with licensing agencies, DCFS and Homewood Police,” it said in a statement to the outlet.
“We have shared additional information that we became aware of yesterday as we believe it warrants further investigation and possible action against the person who did this. We also have a second person who failed to intervene. employees were fired.”
