MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There are still several questions surrounding the fact that a child was left alone, inside a MidSouth day care center Monday night.
WREG went directly to the state agency that regulates day cares to find out how it could have happened.
The On Your Side Investigators found a number of recent violations for the day care, and learned the owner is in the family business.
Nobody had anything to say Tuesday afternoon at Discovery Zone Learning Center in Cordova.
The scene looked a lot different from hours before when emergency teams forced their way in to get a toddler left behind at the center.
Oddly enough, the center’s doors were’t locked when the On Your Side Investigators arrived, so we were able to walk right in.
While waiting in the front lobby, 3 On Your Side noticed a memo about late fees parents are charged for picking up children late, as well as sign in/out sheets.
WREG asked to speak to the person listed on public records as the owner, Amber Riley. Another worker hid in a bathroom, then simply said nobody was available to speak.
She ended the brief conversation by closing a classroom door.
While workers were tight lipped, state records reveal more about the day care.
Discovery Zone has been hit with 10 violations since last year.
A number of the citations were regarding supervision and surrounded incidents where there were too many students and not enough teachers. There were also situations where evaluators noted children just weren’t properly supervised.
WREG found similar complaints online.
One reviewer wrote when rating the center”scale not low enough!”
The On Your Side Investigators also uncovered a YouTube video where the owner talked about her day care.
A woman who identified herself as Amber Riley said”We are here at my child care/learning center.”
She talked about how she has been able to follow in her mom’s footsteps, another Memphis day care owner. Riley also discussed the lifestyle she’s able to lead.
“I never would have imagined being able to do the things that I can do, you know. I’m able to take care of myself and my daughter and keep her in private school and drive what I want to drive,” she added in the video apparently posted by her mother as a motivational piece.
An employee that looked like Riley could be seen on camera holding a child Monday night and dodging our cameras late Tuesday. Workers will have to answer to state regulators who are now looking into the incident.
DHS Spokesperson Stephanie Jarnigan said in an emailed statement, “DHS is aware of the incident and safety is our highest priority. We are currently investigating the incident and do not have any further comment at this time.”
WREG found state licensing rules and regulations that specifically state day cares must conduct a “mandatory visual inspection…immediately prior to closing…for the day in order to ensure that no children have been unintentionally left in any part of the agency’s facilities…”