Moberly daycare being investigated by DESE’s Office of Childhood
EDITOR'S NOTE: Part of a paraphrased quote from a Facebook post and names have been removed to protect potential victims and the investigation.
MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Childhood is actively investigating a daycare in Moberly.
DESE spokesperson Mallory McGowin said the department is actively investigating Play N' Learn Daycare after receiving allegations to investigate on Wednesday.
Play N' Learn Daycare is owned by Naomi Hess. ABC 17 News has previously interviewed Hess about state subsidy payments.
McGowin said Hess voluntarily relinquished her license during the investigation.
Multiple parents have contacted ABC 17 News regarding their children attending Play N' Learn Daycare.
A parent of a girl at the daycare told ABC 17 News he has been in talks with Moberly Police and the Department of Social Service's Outside of Home Investigations unit. Moberly Police confirmed the investigation in a news release later Thursday afternoon.
Another parent who asked not to be named to protect her child's identity said she will be pursuing criminal charges.
The parent told ABC 17 News that she was called by the state to pick up her child from Play N' Learn Daycare on Thursday due to her being a victim of abuse. She said a uniformed officer and two state employees were at the daycare at the time.
Hess said she is not at liberty to comment further.
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services said information related to child abuse and neglect investigations is confidential.
ABC 17 News has contacted the Moberly Police Department and the Randolph County Sheriff's Office but has not yet heard back.
Data on DESE's website shows the license for Play N' Learn Daycare became effective in August 2023.
The site shows there was a compliance monitoring inspection on Aug. 8 this year. Violations listed include medical and immunization reports not being on file, some guardian information not being on file for certain children and Hess' husband, Charles Hess, being short two hours on required child care training.
Earlier violations included an unsafe outdoor space and "hazardous items" being accessible to children including an air freshener and a personal bag. The site shows Play N' Learn Daycare was in compliance with most licensing rules.
Check back as this story is developing.
