A Richmond daycare worker, Elizabeth Thomas, has been arrested after disturbing child abuse allegations came to light. The 25-year-old, who worked at A Step Ahead Daycare, is facing several charges, including first-degree criminal abuse and fourth-degree assault.
According to police documents, Thomas was interviewed on April 4 regarding the abuse claims. During the interview, she admitted to frequently losing her temper with children and physically handling them inappropriately. The citation details an incident on March 20, where Thomas allegedly grabbed a child by the arm, pulled them across the room, and yelled at them for “spitting on other children.” She reportedly simulated spitting on the child during this confrontation.
Further allegations came to light during the police interview, where Thomas admitted to another incident during nap time, where she forcefully threw a child onto a cot after they refused to take a nap. When the child began crying, she allegedly held them down, wrapped them in a blanket, and struck their back repeatedly.
Additionally, Thomas is accused of denying a child with a doctor-approved special diet their packed lunch, forcing them to eat daycare-provided food before they could eat what their parents had packed.
Thomas was arrested on April 7 and booked into the Madison County Detention Center. She is now facing three counts of first-degree criminal abuse and one count of fourth-degree assault related to child abuse.
The disturbing nature of these accusations has sparked concern among parents and the community regarding the safety and care of children at daycare centers.
