A nursery worker in Georgia was taken into custody last month on charges of aggravated battery and child abuse after reportedly assaulting a one-year-old child on his first day at Little Blessings Child Care in Bainbridge.
Yvette Thurston, 54, allegedly left the child with scratches on his face and neck as well as a black eye. Initially, Clay Weeks’ parents were informed that another child had caused the injuries using a plastic toy. However, upon reviewing security footage, it was revealed that Thurston was responsible for the incident. She was subsequently arrested on August 11 and faced charges of first-degree aggravated battery and three counts of first-degree child abuse.
A bond of $44,000 was set and reportedly paid, according to jail records. The nursery, affiliated with the Bainbridge Church of God, received an emergency closure order from the state, leading to its closure until September 21. Thurston was dismissed from her position following the incident, as confirmed by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
Images shared by Weeks’ family displayed severe bruising and lacerations on the child’s face and neck. Weeks received medical treatment for his injuries and his father expressed gratitude for the care provided. The family emphasized the importance of verifying incident reports and cautioned against accepting misinformation.
Weeks’ parents raised concerns about Thurston potentially having a history of violence towards students based on the severity of the incident involving their son. They urged vigilance and emphasized the vulnerability of young children in such situations.
Efforts to reach out to the Bainbridge chief of police for additional details were made by Mirror US. In a statement, Cory Weeks highlighted the necessity of seeking the truth in such cases and expressed shock at the mistreatment of his son, emphasizing the child’s innocence and vulnerability.
The family speculated on social media that Thurston might have engaged in similar violent acts against other students in the past.
