In a shocking incident in Colorado Springs, a woman has been accused of hiding 26 toddlers, all under the age of three, behind a concealed wall in her home daycare facility. The owner, who has been identified as Lisa Thompson, faces charges of misdemeanor child abuse after police discovered the hidden children during a six-week investigation by the Crimes Against Children Unit.
Thompson was taken into custody this week on two counts of reckless child abuse without injury, along with an additional charge for attempting to influence a public servant. She wasn’t alone; three staff members at her daycare—Megan Rivers, 30, Sarah Blake, 36, and Hannah Mitchell, 25—were also arrested.
According to Lt. Mark Jenkins, the investigation was prompted by multiple complaints regarding Thompson’s daycare, Playful Steps, which was licensed to care for only six children. On the day of the raid, officers arrived and, upon hearing noises from the basement, uncovered a false wall hiding 26 toddlers and two adults.
Earlier that day, Thompson misled a human services worker, claiming there were no children present, despite a mother reporting that she had dropped her child off at the daycare that very day. When questioned by police, Thompson denied the existence of a basement and asserted that the children were at the park. However, officers found the toddlers in distress, many with soiled diapers. The Colorado Springs Police Department reported that Thompson was uncooperative throughout the ordeal.
Upon descending the stairs, officers found two adults and 26 children, all under three years old, cramped in a finished basement. Authorities collaborated with the Department of Human Services to reunite the children with their families. Alarmingly, Thompson operates three other daycare centers in the area, only one of which is licensed, and police are now investigating those facilities as well.
Parents of 19 of the affected children have filed a negligence lawsuit against Thompson, expressing their outrage over the appalling conditions their children faced. This situation highlights the challenges working parents face in securing trustworthy childcare. With the stress of finding quality care, the betrayal of trust from someone like Thompson is simply unforgivable.
The state’s Department of Human Services has since suspended Thompson’s daycare license. She has posted a $3,000 bond and is set to appear in court again shortly.
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In summary, Lisa Thompson’s daycare mismanagement has led to serious allegations of child abuse, raising significant concerns about the safety and well-being of children in care facilities. The investigation continues as authorities work to ensure the welfare of all involved.
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