HOPKINSVILLE, KY. (WKRN) – A former daycare worker is accused of harming two babies she was trusted to care for.
Allison Simpson is charged with wanton endangerment and second degree child abuse. She was charged Wednesday for the abuse officers said happened Jan. 10 at Hopkinsville First United Methodist Church’s daycare.
According to her warrant for arrest, Simpson “subjected a 10-month baby in her care to cruel confinement and punishment, and wantonly engaged in conduct toward that baby and another baby, 8 months old, which created substantial danger of serious physical injury to both babies.”
Hopkinsville police said there is video of the alleged abuse. A police spokesman told News 2 detectives are still reviewing the video and cannot comment further on the circumstances of what happened.
Reverend Paige Williams, Senior Pastor at Hopkinsville FUMC, addressed the allegations Sunday. During the service that was steamed on Facebook, Reverend Williams said, “When I was made aware of an allegation of physical mistreatment in our daycare, a determination was made to dismiss that staff person in question. On the following day, the director of our daycare resigned. The Hopkinsville Police Department is aware of the allegation and they are investigating. Hopkinsville First will cooperate fully with that investigation. The Department of Community Based Services, or DCBS, is also aware and a representative was here Friday to investigate. We will continue to cooperate fully with their investigation as well.”
The daycare was closed Monday while officers continued to investigate the claims. It reopened Tuesday with Mindy Campbell as its new director. Campbell is also the director of the church’s pre-school and kindergarten program. The incident was reported last Thursday.