Ex-Daycare Employee Bond Set At 100K Following Assault Charges

BRADENTON, FL — A Bradenton daycare has lost its contract with the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee after a staffer was charged with aggravated child abuse for breaking a four-month-old boy’s leg, according to a report in the Bradenton Herald.

The ELC is a nonprofit agency that provides funding for low income families for daycare and preschool education. It has placed 36 children at Laugh N Learn Academy, making up the majority of the daycare’s current enrollment.

“I have spoken with the infant’s family and expressed our shock and deep regret at what has occurred, and offered all Coalition resources available to help the family in the future,” ELC CEO Paul Sharff told the Herald.

On Thursday, a judge set $100,000 bail for former Laugh N Learn employee Thalia Camarillo, who was arrested Wednesday for aggravated assault after security camera footage showed her repeatedly slapping a four-month-old and twisting his leg. As a result, four-month-old Indigo Johnson fractured his femur, and had to be rushed to the Manatee Memorial Hospital. Due to the complexity of the fracture, the infant needed to be transferred to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for more specialized care. He is now in a full-body cast, according to the Herald.

If Camarillo is released, she will not be allowed to have any contact with minors, or with the victim or his family, according to the Herald.

The Bradenton Police Department continues to investigate the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dahlia Santana at 941-932-9355, email BPDTIPS@bradentonpd.com, or submit anonymous information to 1-866-634-8477 or manateecrimestoppers.com.

Read the full report in the Bradenton Herald here.