Black Mom Says Her Toddler Lost Two Teeth at Unlicensed Day Care, Was Bleeding For Hours

Nationwide — Dashay Johnson, a first-time mother from Mint Hill, North Carolina, is speaking out after her child was seriously injured at an unlicensed daycare, hoping to prevent other parents from going through the same ordeal. Johnson’s story highlights the importance of proper licensing and safety protocols in child care, especially within communities where options are limited.

According to WLBT, Johnson, who works in the hospitality industry, had difficulty finding a daycare for her son Jesiah due to long waiting lists. She was eventually referred to Diane’s Home Away from Home in Mint Hill. Initially, everything seemed to be going well, until the tragic incident on August 21, when Johnson discovered that her son had lost two teeth while in the daycare’s care.

“I mentioned to the daycare that I was on my way to pick him up,” Johnson explained. “But this time, he didn’t run up to me.” Upon inspecting her son, she found his mouth bleeding, and his teeth were either missing or lodged deep inside his gums. According to Johnson, the daycare owner admitted that Jesiah’s injury had occurred four hours before she arrived, but no one had informed her.

The Mint Hill Police Department’s report, though heavily redacted, confirmed that Jesiah’s teeth were “knocked out,” and his bloody clothes were recovered from the daycare. Johnson was horrified to learn that her son had been in pain for hours without any attempt to contact her. “Did you not think to call me?” she asked, expressing her frustration.

WBTV’s investigation revealed that Diane’s Home Away from Home was not a licensed daycare facility, a fact Johnson only discovered after the injury. North Carolina’s Division of Child Development mandates that licensed daycares inform parents when a child is injured, but no such protocol was followed in this case. Johnson’s attorney, Larry Serbin, emphasized the need for licensed care, saying, “You would hope that there would be a lot more safety precautions in place there.”

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the daycare was unlicensed and reminded the public that a license search tool is available on their website. Johnson, reflecting on the situation, advised other parents to be vigilant and check for things like handbooks, visitation policies, and lesson plans before choosing a daycare.

When questioned about the incident, Diane Barr, the owner of the daycare, claimed she was merely babysitting Jesiah and did not provide further details about the injury.