Day Care Workers In Downers Grove Force-Fed Children: Police

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Three women are facing charges of battery and child endangerment after accusations that they force-fed and otherwise abused children while they were working at a day care center in Downers Grove. Stephanie Radke, 24, and Mariah Flemister, 20, both of Bolingbrook, and Maura Healy, 38, of Franklin Park, were all charged in connection with the alleged incident, which was reported at Little People Learning Center, according to police.

In a press release, Downers Grove Police spokesperson Bill Budds said video footage from the day care show the women each force-feeding two infant children. Radke is also accused of hitting a child in the face with a plate.

All three women were fired from Little People Learning Center in mid-January when the accusations were made, Daily Herald reports. Radke, Flemister and Healy each reportedly turned themselves in when charges were filed in early April, according to Downers Grove police.

They each were later released on bond.

An employee from Little People Learning Center who was not charged in the incident told the Daily Herald that the women committed a "feeding infraction" and that Radke had hit the child with the plate unintentionally.

More via Daily Herald