Nationwide — Kailey Gilley and Magan Koker, former day care workers in Dale County, Alabama, were sentenced to prison for abusing children at a local Christian learning center. The women took turns striking kids, leaving multiple victims with bruises and long-lasting emotional trauma.
According to WLBT, Gilley and Koker received 5-year prison terms as part of a 20-year split sentence, followed by three years of probation. Their sentences carry no possibility of parole or early release.
The abuse happened at Happy Hearts Christian Academy Daycare in Daleville, which shut down after the workers were arrested. Investigators said surveillance footage showed the women repeatedly hitting children. One child’s injuries were severe enough to require a hospital visit, prompting a police investigation.
During the sentencing, family members spoke about the emotional impact of the abuse. One mother described her heartbreak and anger after seeing the footage of her child being struck. Other parents shared how the children struggled with nightmares and had trouble adjusting to new childcare settings.
Investigators confirmed that several children were abused, some of whom were too young to speak or ask for help. Dale County Circuit Judge Bill Filmore handed down the sentences after hearing testimony from affected families.