Day care worker pleads guilty to putting child in trash can in Homewood, court docs show
HOMEWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- A south suburban day care worker has pleaded guilty after she was caught on camera putting a child in a garbage can.
The incident happened in January 2025 at the Learning Lab day care.
Police said at about 1 p.m. that day, Anna Petrou, who was an employee at Learning Lab day care, located in the 18700-block of Dixie Highway, placed a 4-year-old child in the alley of the day care for about 20 seconds.
The approximate temperature at the time of the incident was 19 degrees, police said.
Video showed as Petrou brought the child inside, and placed the victim inside of an empty garbage can as a form of punishment, police said.
Nearly one year later, Petrou pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment. She was sentenced to one year of court supervision and 100 hours of community service.
She was also ordered to write an apology letter to the family.
The parents say they didn't learn about the incident until they picked up their son, and he mentioned to them the worker put him in a garbage can because he didn't want to take a nap.
The boys' parents say they were told the individual worker involved was fired. But, they are concerned that other teachers at the school witnessed the incident and failed to stop it, or even report it.
The parents say the worker told them it was a joke.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Homewood day care worker caught on camera putting child in garbage can: 'I had no words'
-Homewood woman charged with endangerment after putting child in trash can at day care: police
