The idyllic image of a safe and nurturing daycare center is shattered when unthinkable acts of alleged abuse come to light. In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through Blaine, Minnesota, two daycare workers face multiple charges of child abuse after their horrifying actions were caught on camera.
Disturbing Discoveries at Small World Learning Center
What started as a parent’s concern over unexplained bruising on their five-month-old child quickly escalated into a full-blown investigation at Small World Learning Center. The parents of “Infant One,” as the child is being identified in court documents, noticed bruising on their child’s thighs, groin, buttocks, and legs. When they approached the daycare center for an explanation, they were met with unconvincing responses, suggesting the marks could be from a chair or swing.
Unsatisfied with these explanations, the parents contacted the authorities. Police questioning of the two employees assigned to the infant room, 24-year-old Khloe K. Johnson and 22-year-old Elizabeth Wymer Slj, yielded similar dismissive explanations about potential causes for the bruising.
However, the truth lay hidden in plain sight – recorded by the daycare center’s surveillance system.
Chilling Details Revealed: Surveillance Footage Tells a Different Story
The surveillance footage, described in graphic detail in the probable cause statement, paints a horrifying picture of alleged abuse. The video reportedly shows Johnson violently flipping Infant One, grabbing the child by the thighs and groin, with no support for the infant’s head. Wymer Slj is also present in the video and appears to be watching as these events unfold.
Further review of the footage revealed a pattern of concerning behavior. Johnson is seen handling other infants roughly, covering an infant’s mouth and nose with a cloth, gripping another child firmly by the neck, and aggressively shoving a bottle into an infant’s mouth. Wymer Slj is also observed slamming an infant onto a pillow and aggressively handling other children.
Image of a baby laying on its stomach on a colorful playmat.
Medical Examinations Confirm Suspicions: A Pattern of Abuse Emerges
Following the initial report, two other infants underwent medical examinations which revealed additional bruising and a leg fracture believed to be two weeks old. Medical professionals determined Infant One had sustained bruising consistent with a grip or squeeze injury, contradicting earlier claims that the bruising was caused by a chair or strap.
Adding another layer to this disturbing case, other parents have come forward with their own accounts of suspicious injuries their children sustained while attending Small World Learning Center.
Parents Demand Justice: A Community Calls for Accountability
The alleged abuse at Small World Learning Center has understandably sparked outrage and fear among parents. Many are now questioning how such horrific acts could have occurred under the supposed watchful eyes of caregivers.
Cody Pesh, a parent whose child attended the daycare, posted on Facebook, “Our five-month-old son was one of them. He received scratches and bruises all over his body and suffered a fractured leg from their abuse.” Another parent, Rihanna Lee, also took to social media to share her experience, “I pulled [my son] from this daycare after multiple mysterious incidents where he kept ‘hurting himself’ where I’d come pick him up with a bloody nose, marks in his body, rug burn, etc.”
A Lawmaker’s Personal Connection: Representative West Vows Action
Adding another layer of complexity to this case is Minnesota State Representative Nolan West, whose own daughter attended Small World Learning Center. West posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his daughter, Sybil, exhibited concerning changes in behavior while attending the daycare. He also revealed that they had pictures of unexplained bruising on their daughter, but at the time, did not suspect abuse.
In a recent interview, Representative West shared his family’s experience, stating that his daughter was “always upset and sad” when they picked her up from the daycare. He went on to describe how Sybil’s demeanor changed drastically after they moved her to a different daycare.
West has vowed to address the systemic issues that may have contributed to the alleged abuse at Small World Learning Center. He plans to focus on legislation requiring cameras in daycare centers, mandatory reporting procedures, and increased transparency between daycares and parents.
A Community Seeks Answers: The Long Road to Justice and Healing Begins
The alleged abuse at Small World Learning Center serves as a chilling reminder that even in places designed for the care and well-being of children, darkness can lurk. As this case unfolds, parents, lawmakers, and the community are left grappling with the devastating impact of these allegations and seeking ways to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.