Mom: 22-month-old left outside after daycare closes

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Published: 5/18/2012 9:59 am

Updated: 5/18/2012 3:18 pm

DILLEY, Texas -- Police and the state's daycare licensing department are investigating a Dilley daycare center after workers there allegedly left a toddler outside when they closed for the day.

When Alicia Lambert went to pick up her 22-month-old daughter Madison at the Lil' Pups Daycare Wednesday, it was almost 6:30 p.m.

"Immediately upon pulling up, I saw that there were no vehicles, and I noticed that the lights were off," said Alicia. "And there's big glass doors, and I just saw the lights were off. And I thought maybe it's just one person in there, and they're just sitting in there waiting for me, since I'm right at the cutoff."

After Alicia contacted the police, an officer found Madison in the backyard of the daycare center. We tried to speak with someone at the daycare about what happened to Madison, but no one there would comment on camera.

We checked the state's licensing website and found out Lil' Pups Daycare has been cited by the state 46 times since January of 2011. Three of those citations had to do with consistently using the sign-in and sign-out tracking system.

Alicia said had they been using that log Wednesday, what happened with her daughter could have been prevented.

"It doesn't matter whose child it is or how old they are," Alicia argued. "You can't just run a business like that, and let parents put their trust in you. That you're going to take care of your child and not do that."

Alicia has filed child endangerment charges against the daycare and has also filed a complaint with the state.

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Anexa - 5/26/2012 3:54 AM

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Even IF the mother was late (and it seems she wasn't), so what? You don't leave a child alone like that! Yes, you would have the right to complain when the parent came to get their child, maybe even charge more, but LEAVING THE CHILD? Unacceptable.

Crockett26 - 5/23/2012 1:31 PM

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As I started reading the comments, I had to stop and add my own. Let me educate some of the people posting. Perhaps it has not been communicated that the daycare hours were until 6:30 p.m. The mother WAS NOT LATE. In fact, the mother almost always arrives early to pick up her daughter. According to the log sheet, at 6:21 p.m., a worker signed the sheet stating there were NO CHILDREN at the daycare. How long had my niece been unattended? How long had she been outside and they had forgotten about her? They are a state licensed daycare, they have emergency contact numbers, none of us were contacted. If they wanted to leave "early" why didn't they call us or the mother? This is not a case of the mother not picking up the child!! This is a case of negligence and endangerment on behalf of the daycare!! As concerned citizens we should be outraged!! Working parents depend on competent facilities to care for children while they work and TRY to earn a living for their families. This is not a case of the mother leaving her child in the car while she ran into the mall!! Please don't try and assume that you have the facts. Channel 4 did an oustanding job reporting this story, however unless they devote hours to do an expo on it, they can't give all of the facts on a newscast. I am the child's aunt, I assure you her mother is a fantastic mother and most of you have no idea how this ordeal traumatized the child, mother and entire family.

ranguiano62 - 5/21/2012 2:24 PM

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the daycare is definetly at fault, what kind of numbskulls leave a baby unattended to begin with. that place should be shut down and the ones responsible thrown in jail. but that said what kind of parents would continue to leave their kids in this place and allow it to take their money and stay open. all the parents are at fault for continuing to reward this place with their business. the parent in question is also at fault for not picking up her kid on time. but that still does not warrant the action taken by the daycare. what if something had happened to the child then what?

JoNoes - 5/21/2012 10:07 AM

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@justcurious, So this makes it ok for the daycare to leave a child unattended? If they call CPS for being late and abandonment don't you think the abandonment was more towards the daycare than the mom. This is a business and as such, they have a responsibility for the care of that child entrusted to them. If, the mother is late, you charge her overtime rates etc, maybe even cancel the childs daycare if the late mother continues to be so but, you don't shut your business down and leave a child behind. I guarantee you CPS would be asking more questions of the daycare than the mother, afterall, they were the ones that abandoned the kid. And, if the mom is late so, what, they are making money off her and the overtime rates aren't cheap.

needmycoffee - 5/20/2012 6:03 AM

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Joey Garza--for one thing, how did ANY church (Baptist or otherwise)come into this conversation? For another, you claim to know that "most" Baptists are perverts? I happen to know MANY, many, many Baptists and there's not a single pervert in the bunch. Not to point fingers, but there's been a whole lot in the news about some Catholics being so inclined. There again, like sandan's comment, your post is irrelevant and has nothing to do with this child subject. The daycare apparently did not follow procedures to make sure "their" children were safe. Granted, mom should not have been late--but whatever time she got there is beside the point. The daycare fell down on their job.

gilly1041 - 5/19/2012 2:51 PM

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@topazeyes You must not have a job. How nice. On second thought, no not really. I like supporting myself and not depending on anyone. Sucks to be you!!

justCURIOUS - 5/19/2012 12:12 PM

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Yes the daycare was wrong for leaving the child alone, but "almost 630", come on lady, your probably consistently late. Your lucky they didn't call CPS on you for being late and abandonment. We only see and hear what the media plants in our brain and not know the whole story.

pandalvr1970 - 5/18/2012 11:32 PM

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With that many citations wouldn't you think that PARENTS would see this when checking periodically on the ppl they entrust their children to....

Joey Garza - 5/18/2012 9:08 PM

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It has been said, time and time again, that letting a child roam is improper and against the principles of the church. It is very important to pretend to drown them first, as first taught by John The Baptist, who wound up with his head cut off for preaching that this was so important. One might conclude as a matter of fact that he was insane for preaching such a gospel that got him into trouble with the authorities. I know for a fact that most Baptists are sexual perverts, but they claim to be forgiven by the blood of the lamb, our Lord, the Christ Jesus.

needmycoffee - 5/18/2012 7:48 PM

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sandan--when you said commonsense wasn't relevant in his/her post, that was like the pot calling the kettle black. You went from redneck to high school dropouts to Perry to God to whether Perry is a great govenor. Talk about irrelevant! The fact remains that this incident should not have happened. If they check their sign-in/sign-out sheets and know who picks up and when, this would not have happened. This is serious. I'd be all over everyone involved if this had happened to my grandchild.

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