LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - When you leave your
child at a day care, you hope they are in safe hands, but one Louisville family
said that's not what happened. A woman running an unlicensed day care out of
her home is facing serious charges for abusing a child.
Kimberly Slaughter said the day care ad on
Craigslist was advertised as a "loving in home child care" and the
woman told her she took care of the kids like a mom. Slaughter said the bruises
on her daughter made her think otherwise.
"My thought was how did this
happen," said Slaughter. "I texted Tina and I said look Scarlett has
a huge bruise across her face in three spots I need to know what
happened."
Slaughter said she started leaving her two
children Clyde, 2, and daughter
Scarlett, 1, with Tina Timerberlake-Whitaker since Thanksgiving.
Timberlake-Whitaker was operating her unlicensed day care off Belmar Drive.
Slaughter said she was only paying $60 to $90 a
week for Timberlake-Whitaker to watch her two children. She said on December
21, she noticed Scarlett had severe bruises to her face, forehead and
both ears.
Slaughter took pictures of the bruises,
took her daughter to the hospital and contacted police.
Police said they questioned
Timberlake-Whitaker and she admitted to hitting Scarlett numerous times because
she wouldn't stop crying.
Timberlake Whitaker was arrested on Friday
charged with criminal abuse 3rd degree. She bonded out of Metro corrections on
Sunday.
WAVE 3 stopped by Timberlake-Whitaker's home
but no one answered.
Slaughter
admitted she did not look into Timberlake-Whitakers background, something
she truly regrets.
Copyright 2013 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
Kimberly Slaughter
Bruises on the child's face.
Tina Timberlake-Whitaker (Source: LMDC)
The home where the children were being watched.
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