A Georgia daycare worker accused of violently injuring a one-year-old boy on his first day at the facility has been released from jail on bond, sparking outrage in the local community.
The child, identified as Clay Weeks, was enrolled at Little Blessings Child Care in Bainbridge when the incident took place. According to investigators, surveillance footage showed 54-year-old Yvette Thurston shoving a table into the toddler, knocking him to the ground, and failing to offer any help afterward. Clay was left with a black eye, swelling, and other visible facial injuries.
Thurston was arrested on August 11 and charged with first-degree aggravated battery and three counts of first-degree child abuse. She was booked into the Decatur County Jail but later released after posting a $44,000 bond.
The case drew even more scrutiny after Clay’s father — a U.S. Marine — revealed that he was initially told his son’s injuries came from another child playing with a toy. It was only after he reviewed the surveillance footage with police that the truth became clear.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) immediately fired Thurston and issued an emergency 21-day closure order against Little Blessings while the investigation continues. The center’s future will be decided once the state review is completed later this month.
Public anger has escalated since the news broke, with local officials reporting threats against the judge who approved Thurston’s bond. District Attorney Joe Mulholland condemned those actions, reminding residents that threats against the court system are unlawful.
Clay has since received medical treatment and is recovering, though his family says the ordeal has been traumatic. His father urged parents to remain vigilant, stressing the importance of pushing for answers when children suffer unexplained injuries.
