A Georgia mother, Sharece Besley, is seeking justice after her baby suffered severe burns while in the care of Young Mindz Learning Academy in Decatur. The shocking incident, which happened in 2022, was caught on surveillance footage and has now led to a lawsuit against the daycare.
A Horrifying Incident
Sharece’s son, Virgil, was just nine months old when a daycare worker allegedly placed him in a sink filled with scalding-hot water. Security footage obtained by WSB-TV shows the worker aggressively removing the baby’s clothes before putting him in the sink. She then left him in the water for over three minutes.
When she finally took Virgil out, she realized he was in pain. However, instead of seeking help immediately, she panicked and wandered around the daycare for 15 minutes before taking action.
Virgil’s Painful Recovery
The burns Virgil suffered were severe, leaving him in agonizing pain. His mother described the heartbreaking recovery process, saying, “It hurt him to urinate.” She also recalled watching doctors pop his blisters, an experience she described as unbearable. “No amount of pain medicine could help him,” she said.
Daycare Violations and Legal Action
According to the lawsuit, daycare employees were not allowed to bathe the children. Instead, they were only supposed to use wet wipes. Sharece’s attorney, Michael Neff, accused the worker of ignoring this policy.
Additionally, state regulations require that children under three be in a separate area from older children. However, surveillance footage showed that a young child was watching over Virgil while the worker was elsewhere.
Neff described the incident as a “multi-level failure” by the daycare. The employee responsible was later arrested and charged with cruelty to children. She received probation as her sentence.
Seeking Justice for Virgil
Sharece is determined to prevent other parents from experiencing similar trauma. “No parent should have to fear for their child’s safety when they leave them at daycare,” she said. “What happened to Virgil never should have happened.”
Neff added that their lawsuit aims to hold the daycare accountable and ensure such negligence never happens again.
State Investigation and Daycare’s Future
Following an investigation, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning confirmed that serious rule violations had occurred, endangering a child’s safety. The daycare was fined and warned that they could lose their license if they failed to make necessary improvements.
Recent state inspections show that the facility has taken steps to correct some of the issues. As of February 19, the daycare remains in good standing with the state.
Conclusion
This heartbreaking case serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in childcare facilities. Sharece Besley is fighting for justice, hoping that no other parent will have to endure what she and her son went through.
