A daycare worker in Georgia has been arrested on charges of child abuse after a father shared troubling photos of his toddler displaying severe injuries.
Yvette Thurston, who is 54 years old, is facing three counts of first-degree child abuse and one count of aggravated battery. She was taken into custody on Monday following reports of the alleged abuse occurring at Little Blessing Child Care in Bainbridge, close to the Florida border.
Cory Week, a US Marine and the father of one-year-old Clay, posted concerning images of his son’s injuries on Facebook. The photos depicted a boy with bruises under his eyes and a swollen face, which were taken on Clay’s first day at the church-run daycare.
In his posts, Week highlighted the serious nature of his son’s injuries, showing Clay with black eyes, significant swelling on his cheek, and several cuts. He conveyed the pain of this situation, stating, “This is the worst nightmare of all parents, and we have to live it.” The family had just enrolled Clay and his older brother, Wyatt, in the facility that Monday.
According to Week, he was informed that another child caused the injury with a plastic toy, but he expressed disbelief at this explanation. He questioned how such harm could happen to innocent kids, implying a larger issue at hand. “It seems clear this isn’t the first time there has been violence,” he noted with a sense of frustration about having trusted the facility for their children’s care.
Clay was taken to Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries. While the specifics of the allegations have not been disclosed, investigators from Decatur County mentioned that surveillance footage from the daycare is part of the investigation.
A spokesperson from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning confirmed the dismissal of certain employees linked to the daycare. They emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation and the intention to collaborate tightly with law enforcement to review the situation thoroughly.
As of now, representatives from Little Blessing Child Care have not responded to requests for comments.
