Day Care Worker Charged with 3 Counts of First-Degree Child Abuse After Dad Alleges His Son Was Injured on First Day By Raven Brunner

A day care worker in Georgia has been charged with child abuse.

Yvette Thurston, 54, was arrested on Monday, Aug. 11, and is facing one count of first-degree aggravated battery and three counts of first-degree child abuse, police in Bainbridge told Cleveland 19 News. 

Officers viewed surveillance video from Little Blessings Child Care in Bainbridge during the investigation, per the outlet. 

Cory Weeks, the father of injured 1-year-old Clay, recalled viewing the footage of the incident with public safety officers. “Nothing we saw was for the faint-hearted, especially happening to such an innocent soul,” he said.

On Thursday, Aug. 14, the dad shared two photos on Facebook of Clay, who he alleged was injured at the day care. The photos show Clay with bruising and swelling around one of his eyes and scratches on his face. 

The concerned father stated that both of his sons, Wyatt, 3, and Clay, were attending their first day at the facility. 

“This is every parents’ worst nightmare and we had to live it and are still living it,” he wrote, adding that his family was “told another child in Clay’s class did this type of damage with a plastic toy.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Bainbridge Police Department for more information on Aug. 17, but did not receive an immediate response.

Police told Cleveland 19 News that the victim, a boy, was treated at a local hospital. Records, per the outlet, showed that Thurston has since been bonded out of Decatur County Jail. Her bond was set at $44,000.

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The City of Bainbridge Public Safety confirmed that the incident occurred at Little Blessings Child Care, which is affiliated with the Bainbridge Church of God, per WRDW.

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) shared a statement with WABL, stating that the organization “is aware of the serious allegations of child abuse at Little Blessings Childcare.”

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“Our agency is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the situation. It has been confirmed that a teacher has been arrested in connection with these allegations. As our investigation is still in its early stages, DECAL will continue to work closely with law enforcement and all relevant parties to ensure a comprehensive review of the facts,” the statement said.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.