Random Day Care Horror Stories (13 items)

(#1) 5-Year-Old Abducted

A 19-year-old day care worker was apprehended and charged with aiding in the abduction of a 5-year-old girl from her elementary school. According to investigators, the suspect and victim walked a few blocks to a home where the child was then blindfolded and told to remove her clothes.

She was found by a passer-by the next day in a park, shivering under playground equipment.
(#2) Four Perish in Texas Day Care Fire

Four children perished when 24-year-old Jessica Tata, a day care worker, left her home to go shopping at a nearby Target. A fire, caused by a pan of oil she had left cooking on the stove, broke out in the home where she was supposed to be watching the children.

As a result, Tata received an 80-year prison sentence.
(#3) Boy Drowns After Getting Lost

After getting lost at his day care, Carlos Cardenas, who was only 22 months old, was found floating face down in a basin of water in the church baptistery where the day care was located. It's unclear how he was lost that day, but officials say it appeared as if he had been in the water for about an hour when they arrived.

Subsequently, the church's day care center closed after Carlos's passing.
(#4) Kids Duct-Taped to Beds

Officials had to investigate a day care center after allegations that the caretakers were duct-taping children to mats to enforce nap time. Parents became aware of the practice after photos of a toddler wrapped in a blanket and bound to a nap mat by duct tape began circulating.
(#5) 2-Year-Old Left Outside On Christmas Eve

When a 2-year-old's father arrived on Christmas Eve at day care to pick her up, he was told she was not there. After a frantic search, the father found her outside "curled up in playground mulch." The day care was closed temporarily.
(#6) Baby Goes On Life Support After Oxygen Deprivation

Two parents made the decision to take their son off life-support after their 4-month-old infant suffered a brain injury consistent with oxygen deprivation. Video tape of the day reveals a blanket bunched up near the boy's mouth, which the caretaker failed to notice as she cleaned the room.
(#7) Toddler Found Wandering Alley

A 20-month old boy was found wandering around a back alley behind his day care center. According to the woman that found him: "He was cold, he was scared, he was 20-months-old." The boy is believed to have escaped through a fire exit without anyone noticing.

Prior to the incident, numerous complaints had been filed against the care center, as this was not the first child lost while under the supervision of the Marysville Daycare and Learning Center.
(#8) Day Care Worker Drugs Kids For Nap Time

Deborah Gratz was fired from the day care facility she worked out after witnesses allege they saw her put a substance into the cups of several children. When she was confronted by the facility's administrators, she admitted to putting an over-the-counter sleep medication into the cups.
(#9) Baby Asphyxiated After Being Placed In Soft Bedding

10-month-old Henry Hall passed from asphyxiation when his licensed at-home day care provider placed him on soft bedding for his nap because she had run out of cribs. Reportedly, the caretaker then fell asleep with the help of sleeping aids.

Laytarishia D. Robinson received a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty for involuntary manslaughter.
(#10) Little Girl Left On The Bus

A 6-year-old girl fell asleep on a four-row bus while under the supervision of a day care provider. When she awoke, everyone was gone, and the bus doors were locked. The driver is supposed to walk the aisles before locking the bus, but had apparently failed to do so.

The child was left for 90 minutes until a parent spotted her.
(#11) 2-Year-Old Dragged By Arm

A daycare employee was caught dragging a 2-year-old by her arm. The girl was later diagnosed with an arm sprain, and the day care worker was fired. Still, the Missouri Department of Social Services found that the abuse allegations were "unsubstantiated."

That means the worker has a clear record and can move on to another job.
(#12) Baby Breaks Arm After Being Dropped

Amanda Jolene Oster was charged with one gross misdemeanor count of child neglect after dropping a baby and breaking its arm. According to a social worker that Oster spoke with after the incident, she had pulled on the blanket that held the infant, causing the baby to roll out and on to a couch.
(#13) Day Care Used As Site For Drug Deals

Three men were caught using drugs after hours at a day care center. The owner of the day care was the mother of one of the suspects and was unaware of the offenses taking place. She claimed her son broke into the facility. Police were alerted to the situation when they received a call for help from the facility on a Saturday night.

One of the suspects had overdosed and needed medical attention.