Three workers are now facing charges nearly two months after a 7-month-old baby girl was left alone in the dark inside a closed day care center in North Philadelphia, authorities said Tuesday.
According to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, 35-year-old Gabriela Rivas, 23-year-old Sydia Thomas-Ishman, and 22-year-old Janae Smith are all charged with endangering the welfare of children and conspiracy.
The incident unfolded on Feb. 1, officials said. Jessy Flores and her partner, Camron Banks, arrived at New Arisens Childcare Solutions in Feltonville to pick up their daughter, Amora, around 5:30 p.m. Even though the facility usually closes at 6 p.m., its gate was already locked when the couple arrived.
The two rang the bell and banged on the doors but got no response, so they contacted Philadelphia police.
Officers were able to track down the building’s key holder. However, the lock jammed and police had to request assistance from the Philadelphia Fire Department.
“They had to break down the door,” Flores told NBC Philadelphia. “Fire department had to break it down, like a machine.”
After they managed to cut through the gate, police went into the building and found the little girl. Amora was alone in the dark, “in the corner asleep in a car seat,” Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told CBS News Philadelphia.
Despite feeling an enormous sense of relief, Flores said was also left feeling angry and confused.
“I was just crying. I was very emotional,” she said. “I didn’t know how to feel or say anything.”
Banks described the situation to Fox 29 as “heartbreaking.”
“We were recommended to this day care by a family friend and my sister worked there in the summertime, so we thought we were in good hands,” he said.
The three women were arrested following an investigation by Philadelphia Police, the DA’s office said Tuesday.
New Arisens Childcare Solutions operates two facilities in Philadelphia serving children between 6 weeks and 12 years of age. A person answering the phone at the Feltonville location on Tuesday refused to comment on the charges.
