A daycare worker from Illinois has been arrested on charges of child endangerment after allegedly leaving a 4-year-old boy in her care in a frigid alleyway and subsequently placing him in a trash can. Anna Petrou, 58, was apprehended last Thursday following an incident at The Learning Lab Preschool & Childcare in Homewood.
According to the Homewood Police Department, Petrou left the young boy in an outdoor corridor for approximately 20 seconds when he refused to nap. The incident occurred on the afternoon of January 13, when temperatures were reported to be around 19 degrees.
Surveillance footage from the daycare center reportedly shows Petrou bringing the child back inside and placing him in an empty garbage bin as a form of punishment. This act was carried out in the presence of other children and staff members.
The boy’s parents reported the incident to the police after picking up their son from the daycare center that day. The mother, Monica Forte, expressed her shock and distress upon viewing the surveillance footage. She criticized Petrou, who claimed her actions were a joke, for her failure to handle the situation appropriately. Forte has stated that her children will not be returning to the daycare center and she is contemplating legal action.
The boy’s father, Justin Barnes, also expressed his concern about the incident and its potential impact on his son. Petrou has been charged with endangering the life of a child, a misdemeanor, and has been released from custody pending a future court date.
In addition to Petrou’s arrest, another employee was dismissed from the daycare center for failing to intervene during the incident. The Learning Lab has stated that they are cooperating fully with the family, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Homewood police. They have also shared additional information that came to light, which they believe warrants further investigation and possible action against the individual involved.