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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that on July 08, 2026, Child A (2-years-old) was left alone on the child care van for approximately 20 minutes. The child care facility was on a field trip to the movies, the bus monitor did not do a head count, and Child A was left alone on the van for approximately five minutes. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations.
5 CSR 25-500.212(1)(A) which states: "The provider shall be responsible for the care, safety and supervision of children on field trips or at any time they transport children away from the facility."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(1)(B) which states: "Written parental consent shall be on file at the facility for field trips and transportation."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(1)(C) which states: "Parents shall be informed when field trips are planned."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(A) which states: "All children shall be seated in a permanent seat and restrained by seat belts or child restraint devices as required by Missouri law."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(G) which states: "Children shall not be left unattended in a vehicle at any time."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(L) which states: "Head counts shall be taken before leaving the facility, after entering the vehicle, during a field trip, after taking the children to bathrooms, after returning to the vehicle and when back at the facility."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(M) which states: 'When children leave the vehicle, the vehicle shall be inspected to ensure that no children are left on or under seats."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
On July 8, 2026, director Patricia Jones stated that the incident did occur with Child A, who is 2-years-old. The group was out on a field trip at the 24:1 movie theater to see the Minion movie at 10:00 a.m. She drove her van there with four children and caregiver A'yanna. They got to the theater after the movie time already started. In the other van was caregivers Tony, Nancy, and 11 children. She (Patricia) did not stay at the theater, she just dropped off the caregiver and children in her van. She returned during the movie with Gertie and Child P to drop them off. She wanted Gertie to go help the other caregivers and Child P had arrived late at the daycare. She was not aware of Child A being left at this time. Child P rode back with her in the van after the movie. Child P (3-years-old) was strapped in a seat belt on the way home with A'yanna because there was not enough room for a car seat for him. The facility uses a form to write down all the names of the children for attendance and staff are supposed to use a check off system at each transition, calling the children by names and matching with their face. She received a call from Tina Mosley, the person who runs the summer theater program, saying that a child had been left on their van. Tina was not at the theater but an employee from there had called to tell her. When she arrived at the theater she checked the list of children herself. Nancy told her that she did do a head count of the children before going into the theater but she did not do a name-to-face count. The facility does not get written permission for each field trip, for each child; they just posted a movie flyer to show parents the times and dates of movies.
On July 8, 2026, caregiver Antoine "Tony" Jones stated that he drove the center's van and they got to the theater around 10:15 a.m. He helped walk the children into the theater with the caregivers. They were in the theater maybe seven minutes and then they realized that a child was missing. Usually, he stays out in the parking lot during the movie. He was on his way back out to the van and the theater made an announcement that a child was outside. Child A was still strapped in her seat in the van. Child A couldn't get herself out of the van and would have to have help with the harness buckle. Child A was ready to get out and said "it's movie time." Child A was not in distress in anyway or sweaty. The windows were cracked on the van. He walked Child A to the theater and Nancy met them there and checked her in. They all stayed and watched the movie and returned back to the center at 12:30 p.m.
On July 8, 2026, caregiver A'yanna Slone stated that she was on the field trip. She had some 1-year-olds and 3-year-olds. She rode to the theater with Patricia, who is also her grandmother and they had four children. In the center's van was Nancy, Tony, and 11 children. She is not sure what time they got to the theater but she knew it was after the start time of the movie which was 10:00 a.m. She met Nancy at the van and swapped a few children, taking five children inside with her to the theater. She told Nancy that she counted 14 children and asked Nancy if that was right. She told Nancy that she thought Nancy had 11 children in the other van, which would make a total of 15 children, but they did not double check, they just went in. Everyone got into the theater and sat down. She made a few trips back and forth to get popcorn and drinks for all the children. Then, the movie stopped, the lights came on, and an announcement was made that there was a child left outside in a car. She looked at Nancy and asked who it could be. Nancy took out the attendance book and pointed to Child A's name. She thought Child A had been left at the center but Nancy said that Child A had been in the van. Nancy then said that she remembered unbuckling Child A. She (A'yanna) remembered counting all the children once they got inside and also remembered saying to Nancy there were only 14 children, but neither of them checked the list or tried to figure out why the count was off. When they first got to the theater, Tony came inside and helped seat the children. Tony stayed in the theater the whole time, but went back to the van after they called over the intercom that a child was outside. Tony brought Child A inside the theater. Tony sat Child A in a seat in the same row as Nancy. Neither she nor Nancy ever checked on Child A to see if Child A was ok. Even after all this occurred, neither she, Nancy, or Tony stopped to recount the children again. She never told Patricia about the incident.
On July 8, 2026, caregiver Roshonda "Gertie" Smith stated that she got to the theater around 11:00 a.m. Patricia picked her up from the center and took her to the theater after dropping off other people. Patricia said they needed more help at the theater. She was dropped off and went into the theater and sat with the children. Tony was in the theater, along with Nancy and A'yanna. When the movie was over she found out about Child A being left in the van. A'yanna told Nancy that Patricia found out that a child was left on the van. As far as she knew, Child A was in the theater when she arrived. She did not observe any situation of the movie stopping and someone needing to get a child out of the van. A'yanna said that the incident happened before she got there. They usually write names down and do multiple checks of numbers of children.
On July 8, 2026, caregiver Nancy Mason stated that they took a field trip to the 24:1 Cinema on Page Avenue. The movie they went to see started at 10:00 a.m. but they arrived a little late. Her phone was dead so she was not sure about the exact time that they arrived. There were 11 children total in the van she was in. They left the center around 9:30 a.m with 15 children total on the trip, ages 1- to- 2-years-old. The caregivers with her were A'yanna and Tony. She remembers unstrapping all the children from car seats, but Child I (3-years-old) didn't have a car seat. Child I was just buckled with a seat belt. Child A was in the back seat of the van and can't get in and out of the seat by herself. Tony was the one who went back to the van to get Child A, but she and A'yanna are responsible for doing head counts. As soon as they walked into the building, they did a head count and noticed that a child was missing because the number was off, but she did not look into it. There is a book that they use to count children and do a name-to-face count to make sure they have all the kids. They should count the children three times each trip. She did a head count when they left the center and then again when they left the movies. She didn't count the children when they got off the van. She noticed that Child A was not with them when A'yanna said that she counted only 14 children while they were at the entrance door, but she didn't look at the book and just went into the theater. When they made the announcement, she knew right away that it was Child A that was outside. Child A was only outside for maybe five or six minutes when a loud speaker went off and said that a child was left in the van. She told A'yanna that was maybe Child A. Tony brought Child A back into the building and she took Child A into the movie room. Child A was not sweaty, but she got popcorn and Pepsi. She did not tell Patricia about Child A being left in the van. The attendance log shows that there were 16 children because Child P arrived late during the movie. Patricia brought Child P in her van after they had already arrived, along with Gertie. Gertie had come to help them out. They have taken the young children, ages 1-year-old and 2-years-old, to the movies before, but they just cry while we are there because the movies are not for their age. She will start using the attendance book more often and do multiple checks.
On July 8, 2026, CI Graham observed a field trip permission slip noting the following:
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Our class is planning a field trip to "Summer Field" on "Trips". We're looking forward to a fun and educational day! The trip will take place between "06/01/2026 and 08/20/2026". The total cost is "$25", and we ask that you send in both the signed permission slip and payment by "Friday June 12, 2026." Without this permission slip, your child will not be allowed to attend the field trip.
On the day of the trip, please make sure your child is dressed according to the weather, as some activities will be outside.
"Field trips include: Movies, Library, Skating, City Jump Park, Science Center, Grant's Farm, Bowling, Zoo."
If you're interested in joining us as a chaperone, please let us know by checking the box below. Depending on how many volunteers we have, we may need to limit the number of chaperones.
-I give permission for my child, ____ to attend the field trip to ____ on ____.
-I do not give permission for my child to the attend the field trip.
A permission slip was not observed for every child that attended the field trip on July 8, 2026. Specifically, a permission slip was missing for Child A (2-years-old), Child B (3-years-old), Child E (2-years-old), Child F (2-years-old), Child G (2-years-old), Child H (3-years-old), Child I (3-years-old), Child J (2-years-old), Child K (20-months-old), Child L (3-years-old), Child M (3-years-old), Child N (3-years-old), Child O (16-months-old), and Child P (3-years-old).
On July 9, 2026, CI Graham observed video footage from the 24:1 Cinema showing the parking lot on July 8, 2026. The total time that Child A was alone in the van was 26 minutes and 52 seconds.
On July 9, 2026, CI Graham referenced WeatherUnderground.com for daily and hourly temperatures in Fahrenheit (F) for July 8, 2026. WeatherUnderground.com records historical weather data. GoodCalculator.com was referenced to determine the approximate temperature of the inside of the vehicle, taking into account outdoor temperature and the amount of time elapsed. Child A was left in the van at 10:10 a.m. and removed from the van at 10:37 a.m. At 9:51 a.m., the outdoor temperature was 84 degrees F, with 65% humidity. The feels-like temperature, considering heat index, was 89 degrees F. With these numbers and after 26 minutes of being in a car, the inside air temperature may reach 116 degrees F.
At 10:51 a.m., the outdoor temperature was 87 degrees F, with 61% humidity. The feels-like temperature, considering heat index, was 93 degrees F. With these numbers and after 26 minutes of being in a car, the inside air temperature may reach 119 degrees F.
On July 9, 2026, Parent A (parent of Child A) stated that she was notified at 1:53 p.m. by an outside agency about Child A being left on a van at the theater. She was not called by Patricia Jones until 2:18 p.m., according to her phone log. She was told that Child A was at the movies but Patricia was not there. Patricia said Child A was left on the van about five minutes, but later she was told by another agency that Child A was left for over 20 minutes. Patricia said that Child A was okay. She remembers filling out a blanket form for trips for the whole summer; however, she was not aware of Child A going to the movies that day.
On July 9, 2026, community member Tina Mosley stated that she coordinated the summer movie program. She was not at the theater on July 8, 2026, but she got a call at 10:53 a.m. from a volunteer at the theater saying that a child had been left on a van. A passerby saw the child and went inside to tell the theater. When she figured out the center the child was connected to, she called the director for that center.
On July 9, 2026, CI Graham observed files for all children on the field trip and there were two children, Child B (3-years-old) and Child D (2-years-old), that did not have permission to go on field trips marked on their enrollment forms and one child, Child E (2-years-old), that did not have transportation permission marked on the enrollment form.
On July 20, 2026, 24:1 Cinema supervisor Allen Schneider stated that once they were aware that a child was outside, the movie was stopped and it was announced that a child had been left outside in a vehicle. There was a worker from Cintas that was going in and out of the theater with deliveries that noticed the child being out in the van. The child walked in on her own with a male caregiver. The male caregiver was with the group inside the theater when the announcement was made.
5 CSR 25-500.212(2)(A) which states: "The driver of any vehicle used to transport children shall be no less than eighteen years of age and shall have a valid driver's license as required by Missouri law."
On July 8, 2026, CI Graham observed the driver's license for Tony Jones, which was a Class F license that does not meet Missouri requirements for transporting children.
5 CSR 25-500.102(1)(F) which states: "Caregivers shall be capable of handling emergencies promptly and intelligently."
On July 8, 2026, director Patricia Jones stated that after another agency called about investigating the incident, she (Patricia) called Parent A, which was around 1:40pm.
On July 8, 2026, caregiver A'yanna Slone stated that neither she nor Nancy ever checked on Child A to see if Child A was ok. Even after all this occurred, neither she, Nancy, or Tony stopped to recount the children again. She never told Patricia about the incident.
On July 9, 2026, director Patricia Jones was re-interviewed and stated that this incident has not changed her plans to transport children to and from school, but she will no longer go on field trips after this incident; however, she did take another group of children on a field trip to the theater the same day, right after this happened.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(D)1. which states: "Infants and toddlers shall have constant care and supervision. Home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) shall not be used in place of supervision while children are napping or sleeping."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(2)(C)4.G. which states: "After awakening, an infant may remain in the crib as long as s/he is content, but never for periods longer than thirty (30) minutes."
On July 8, 2026, during the investigation at the facility, Nancy Mason was out of her classroom and in the kitchen at the front of the building. There were five children, ages 5-months-old to 12-months-old, left in the classroom unattended. One child was crying in a bumbo on the floor and all the other children were in cribs, awake and crying. These children remained in their cribs for the duration of the inspection, which lasted over two and a half hours.
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A) which states: "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On July 9, 2026, CI Graham observed video footage from the 24:1 Cinema showing the parking lot on July 8, 2026. While Tony was inside 24:1 Cinema initially, once Child A was discovered, Tony went back outside during the movie, which means only three caregivers were with 16 children ages 1-years-old to 3-years old for 47 minutes and 12 seconds.
On July 8, 2026, CI Graham conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed that ratios were non maintained in three classrooms. Caregiver Nancy Mason's room was exceeding ratio while leaving children unattended, and also not caring for children appropriately. At one point, Nancy was out of her classroom and in the kitchen at the front of the building, leaving five children, ages 5-months-old to 12-months-old, unattended. One child was in a bumbo on the floor, crying, and all the other children were in cribs, awake and crying. These children remained in their cribs, awake, for the duration of the inspection, which lasted over two and a half hours. Nancy never took the children out of the cribs to provide age-appropriate activities. Caregiver Gertie Smith assisted with Nancy's room by going over to stand in the doorway to Nancy's classroom; however Gertie's room was also exceeding ratio. Gertie was caring for 13 children, four children were 2-years-old and nine children were 3-years-old. Caregiver A'yanna Sloan's room was exceeding ratio. A'yanna was caring for five children, one child was 1-year-old and four children were 2-years-old.
5 CSR 25-500.182(2)(B)1. which states: "Developmentally appropriate play experiences and activities planned to meet the interests, needs, and desires of the children."
On July 8, 2026, caregiver Nancy Mason stated that they have taken the young children, ages 1-year-old and 2-years-old, to the movies before, but they just cry while there because the movies are not for their age.
On July 8, 2026, CI Graham conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed that caregiver Nancy Mason's room was exceeding ratio while leaving children unattended, and also not caring for children appropriately. At one point, Nancy was out of her classroom and in the kitchen at the front of the building, leaving five children, ages 5-months-old to 12-months-old, unattended. One child was in a bumbo on the floor, crying, and all the other children were in cribs, awake and crying. These children remained in their cribs, awake, for the duration of the inspection, which lasted over two and a half hours. Nancy never took the children out of the cribs to provide age-appropriate activities.
On July 9, 2026, director Patricia Jones was re-interviewed and stated that the 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds have a schedule for field trips which includes going to the movies. The toddlers and 2's have gone to the movies twice. The caregivers told her that they cried during the last movie but she took them again anyways. All the movies they have seen have been mainly for to school-age children.
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