Day care workers charged with hitting, dragging children, Des Plaines police say

DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- Police say seven boys in total, ages four and five, were battered. The north suburban day care says both employees no longer work for them and were removed after the allegations came to light.

Jessica Murillo, 36, of Morton Grove and Izabella Thompson, 23 of Chicago, were allegedly captured on surveillance video battering multiple children in their care at A Mother's Touch Learning Academy in Des Plaines.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Some parents of children at that day care told ABC7 off camera that the allegations are troubling.

Police say it occurred over a two-and-a-half-week period last November and came to light after a parent told the day care a child was sprayed in the face with water in a classroom. From there, a review of surveillance video revealed a string of alleged batteries.

While reviewing footage, the day care found that the women had battered at least seven boys, aged 4 to 5, over the span of two weeks.

The day care reviewed the footage and suspended Murillo and Thompson, police said. A Mother's Touch says it also notified police and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

On Nov. 24, the directors and some of the parents filed a formal police report. Nearly three months later, Murillo and Thompson were formally charged.

Thompson faces misdemeanor counts, but Murillo has been charged with felony aggravated battery for allegedly hitting a child in the face with a notebook, dragging a boy across the floor by his foot, causing his head to hit the ground, and hitting a child in the face with an open hand.

In a statement, the day care said, "The safety and wellbeing of the children in our care is always our top priority. We take this matter very seriously. As soon as we became aware of conduct that did not align with our standards, we immediately removed the staff members involved and notified the appropriate authorities, including the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing review and will continue doing so until the investigation is complete. The staff members involved are no longer employed by our school."

Police say none of the children were seriously injured or needed medical attention.

Murillo is due in court on Wednesday, and Thompson is scheduled to appear on March 30.

Des Plaines police said the day care was cooperative throughout the investigation.