RICHMOND, Ky. — Three employees from two Richmond daycare centers have been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation into multiple counts of child abuse, according to court records and police citations.
Theodrick Hersey, Brooklyn Houk, and Jessica Houk each face:
Five counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12
One count of obstructing an investigation into child abuse
Three counts of failure to report child abuse or neglect
The charges stem from alleged abuse that occurred at A Step Ahead Daycare and The Kid’s Club Childcare Center, where the three individuals reportedly allowed an employee—who had been written up for hitting children in 2023—to remain on staff, which investigators say led to five additional children being abused.
Court documents also reveal that the three were allegedly involved in a cover-up involving a child who escaped from the daycare and nearly reached a major roadway. Text messages included in the investigation reportedly show Brooklyn and Jessica instructing staff to lie to state investigators about the incident. One employee initially gave false statements before later admitting the truth.
The three were arrested during a search warrant execution at their residence and booked into the Madison County Detention Center. They each bonded out for $1,500 on Friday and are set for arraignment on May 6, 2025.
Conditions of Their Release Include:
No contact with victims, witnesses, or minor children
No involvement in caretaking roles
No drugs or alcohol
Random drug testing
No violations of the law
In a related development, Theodrick Hersey has been placed on administrative leave from Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS), where he is also employed.
The arrests follow an earlier incident involving 25-year-old daycare worker Elizabeth Thomas, who admitted to police that she often lost her temper while working at A Step Ahead Daycare. Her admission reportedly helped launch the broader investigation.
The Richmond Police Department continues to investigate possible additional abuse and failures to report across both daycare centers.
