Parents Speak on Daycare Situation

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Parents are speaking out on the recent investigation of a Toombs County daycare worker who is suspected of committing crimes of cruelty to children.

According to the Lyons Police Department, Nicole Kathleen Cabrera, 21, was arrested on Wednesday, December 27, at her home in Collins. Authorities say that the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office took Cabrera into custody, bringing her to the Toombs County Detention Center where she was booked and charged with nine felony counts of cruelty to children and a misdemeanor count of battery. She has since been released on bond.

Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker said that these charges are a result of an investigation which has been actively conducted since November. During this investigation, law enforcement discovered nine victims under the age of one who suffered scratches, abrasions, and bumps on their heads.

Police were first alerted to the possibility of child cruelty by the victims’ parents who also alerted the daycare of the situation. Parents and family members said that they first became aware of the issue after noticing bumps and other marks on their babies’ heads after picking them up, and spoke with the daycare about the issue. The facility shared that Cabrera had been terminated from employment. Recognizing the severity of the situation, these families then reached out to law enforcement, notifying them of the suspected cruelty.

The families emphasized that the incident is a “horrible situation,” as they shared their hopes of preventing this from happening in the future.

The situation will further develop as the active investigation continues. Walker said he anticipates more charges to come in the case in the future.