Family Says Toddler Was Attacked, Scratched by Another Child at Daycare

Warning: Photos in the article may be disturbing to some readers

The parents of a Mississippi toddler is claiming a 4-year-old boy attacked the child while at daycare this month after a worker stepped out of the room. Google Maps

The parents of a Mississippi toddler are claiming a 4-year-old boy attacked the child while at daycare this month after a worker stepped out of the room.

Dakota Hudson, who is 18 months old, was allegedly attacked by the older child on Dec. 11, according to WPDE. Photos posted on social media also showed what appear to be scratch marks on the boy’s face.

Latoye Sutter, the child’s mother, told the outlet she dropped the boy off at the Pooh and the Crew home daycare in Pascagoula on Dec. 11. Several hours later, the owner texted her saying her boy was injured.

“I’m not sure how you’re going to take this, but it’s bad,” the owner reportedly texted her.

A family member, Trent Latoye Hudson, wrote on Facebook about the incident: “I usually don’t post my PERSONAL BUSINESS. My son was at POOH AND THE CREW DAYCARE from PASCAGOULA MS and was ATTACKED by A 4YR CHILD. I WILL BE GETTING JUSTICE FOR MY SON. I WANT HER SHUT DOWN AND I WILL BE FILING SUIT. SO IF ANYONE KNOW ANY LAWYERS PLEASE TAG #JusticeForDakota.”

Other than the scratches on his face, chest, and eyes, the boy also has emotional scars. He will now need to go to a therapist about the attack, his family told WPDE.

Sutter said daycare employees didn’t call 911, and she was forced to take her child to the hospital.

“She said my son was laying on his cot sleeping, and the other child was next to him on his cot on the iPad when she stepped out of the room. She said they were okay ... and the next thing she knew my son was crying, and when she came back over and turned the light on my son was standing there covered in blood,” she elaborated, WLOX reported.

Sutter said the boy who attacked her son was taken out of another daycare due to a similar incident, according to the report. “And you knew this child had these types of issues, there’s no reason why he should have been left alone even for a second with a one year old,” Sutter said.

Reporters with WPDE went to the daycare, but no one answered the door or returned their phone calls.

The Mississippi Department of Health said the daycare is not licensed, and an investigation is now underway.

The state has since shut down the daycare, reported the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “Pooh and Crew is not licensed nor has it applied for a license at this time,” Liz Sharlot, spokeswoman for the Mississippi State Department of Health, told the paper.  “Since this facility was out of compliance with the law—and we only investigate licensed facilities—the complaint (regarding the child) has been turned over to the Department of Human Services,” she said.

“The police department is not releasing any information in reference to this case due to it being an active investigation and a juvenile issue,” said Pascagoula Police Capt. Shannon Massey, WLOX reported.

The family also warned people about online scammers after someone set up an apparently fake GoFundMe account without them knowing. “I swear, the nerve of people,” Trent Hudson said, adding that the family might set one up in the future, but they haven’t done so yet.