A daycare in New Jersey has been shut down after a mother said her daughter was returned to her “covered in bruises and scratches.” The daycare shut down comes after it was also found to be in violation of several rules.
Anari Ormond, the mother of 6-month-old Zuri, reportedly knew the daycare, J & A Nursery, where her daughter was cared for, was being operated illegally, CBSNewYork reports.
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Now she’s taking action against the childcare center by getting it shut down. Last week, Ormond told CBSNewYork that Zuri came home battered and bruised after spending the day J & A Nursery.
The mom was reportedly told that the bruises were the result of the daycare owner falling down the stairs while she was carrying Zuri and that an unattended 2-year-old bit her on the stomach, NJ.com reports. Ormond, a preschool teacher, told People she was told of her daughter’s injuries after getting a text from the daycare telling her to call them.
“[The owner] began a story saying she went upstairs to get Neosporin and fell down the steps while holding my daughter and she was severely bruised.” That’s when she found Zuri “red, bruised, swollen and scratched.”
Ormond says her daughter’s injuries still aren’t fully healed. “The scars are definitely making progress, but she’s traumatized. I was shocked and heartbroken. She was just sitting there. She wasn’t laughing or smiling.” Ormond said a doctor diagnosed her daughter with a mild concussion and was sent home with some antibiotics.
Ormond also reported the incident to the police. In a statement given to ABC7NY by The New Jersey Department of Children and Families, “that Family Child Care Homes are permitted to operate in New Jersey, without a license, if they are caring for five or fewer unrelated children […] and operating without such a license may subject the operator to prosecution.”
According to CBSNewYork, the owner of J & A Nursery has been identified as Lisa Muhammad. Muhammad was arraigned in court on November 21 for running a daycare without a license.
The nursery was reportedly being operated from the basement of Muhammad’s home. Pictures of the basement reveal a handful of cribs and play areas. And on top running the daycare without a license, Muhammad also received citations for “fire escapes not being present, health codes that she violated,” Ormond told CBSNewYork.
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NJ.com reports the citations were for “nuisances, failure to obtain a certificate of occupancy, failure to obtain a license and failure to provide adequate doors for exit.” Ormond believes Muhammad should face criminal charges for her actions. The owner is expected to be back in court on December 19.
The mom told People, “I thought I was doing the best thing for her.” Ormond admits she feels “defeated.”
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