South Carolina Day Care Workers Arrested for Allegedly Stuffing Ice Pack Inside Child’s Clothes

Excel Academy, a day care center in Fountain Inn, S.C., is shown in an undated file photo. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Two women working at a day care center in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, were arrested on Sept. 13 for allegedly putting an ice pack inside a child’s clothing.

Police arrested Kimberly McCall and Joy Lashway for “knowingly and intentionally” inflicting unnecessary pain and suffering to a minor child by putting the ice pack inside the clothing, according to Fox News.

The alleged incident took place at Excel Academy in Fountain Inn on Aug. 24.

Speaking to WYFF News 4, the father of a child who attended the academy said that teachers used to put ice packs inside children’s pants to keep them awake. This was done to ensure that the kids did not sleep during playtime and instead all took their naps at the same time.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services received a complaint about Excel Academy on Aug. 30. The department is working with law enforcement in the investigation.

In a Sept. 12 Facebook post, Excel Academy said that the institution is not immune to the “baffling actions” of its staff. The post went on to claim that a former employee was spreading “inaccurate information” and lying to staff members and parents in order to discredit their business.

“On the advice of our attorney, we are asking that anyone who feels pressured by or harassed by this former employee, to please speak to us to get the accurate, honest truth to any matter pertaining to our center and staff,” the post said.

Other Day Care Crimes

There have been several high profile crimes involving day care workers allegedly abusing children in recent months. In June 2022, a day care owner from the New York City borough of the Bronx was indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting a boy who attended the facility.

In May 2022, four day care employees in Tennessee were arrested for allegedly giving sleeping medication to children without receiving consent from their parents. Police said the practice had been going on for three years.

In August 2021, a female day care owner in Colorado was found guilty of child abuse and other charges after she kept 26 children hidden in the basement of her home even though she was only licensed to have six children in her care. She was sentenced to six years behind bars.

According to federal law, child care providers are required to submit requests for background checks for each member working at the facility, and employees at the centers have to complete background checks at least once every five years.

A comprehensive background check will involve investigating whether the day care worker is listed in the state criminal and sex offender registries, National Sex Offender Registry run by the Department of Justice, state child abuse and neglect registry.