Written by: E. George
Published March 17, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. – A 21-year-old Riverstone Academy daycare center employee faces a felony child cruelty charge after a mother discovered suspicious marks on her four-year-old son. On February 6, 2024, a Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy interviewed the mother, who explained that she found the marks while preparing her child for bed earlier that evening.
She said he did not have them before attending daycare that morning. He told her his teacher “grabbed” him twice. She informed the deputy that each classroom featured a camera.
The deputy noted and photographed the marks on the boy.
Authorities arrested Kaila Ryan Whitaker on February 14, 2024, and charged her with felony first-degree cruelty to children – causing excessive physical/mental pain. This case is pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on February 06, 2024]
On 6 February 2024 at 20:16 hours, I, Deputy Acevedo, #190, was dispatched to [6700 BLOCK] Clark St, Douglasville, GA 30134, in reference to assault.
Upon arrival, I made contact with [WITNESS #1]. [WITNESS #1] stated that her son, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (4 years of age), attends daycare at Riverstone Academy (4773 Chapel Hill Rd, Douglasville, GA 30135). [WITNESS #1] stated that when she was getting [REDACTED BY AGENCY] ready for bed at approximately 19:30 hours on 6 February 2024, she observed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] did not have [REDACTED BY AGENCY] before being dropped off at daycare at 08:26 hours on 6 February 2024.
[WITNESS #1] stated that she picked up [REDACTED BY AGENCY] from daycare at 17:40 hours on 6 February 2024. [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was acting normal when she picked him up. [WITNESS #1] stated that when she asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told her that the teacher grabbed him twice. I asked [WITNESS #1] who the teacher was, and she stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] does not know the teacher’s name and only calls them teacher.
[WITNESS #1] stated that there are two teachers in the classroom but does not know which teacher [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was talking about. [WITNESS #1] stated the names of the two teachers are [REDACTED] and Kaila Whitaker. [WITNESS #1] stated that she did not have any other information on [REDACTED] and Kaila. [WITNESS #1] did state that there are cameras in each classroom.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] was already asleep when I arrived on scene, and [WITNESS #1] was having a hard time waking him up, but I was able to observe [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Pictures of the [REDACTED BY AGENCY] will be uploaded to the report. [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has been in in the same daycare for approximately a year and that this has never happened before. I provided a copy of the case number to [WITNESS #1] and information on how to obtain said report.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on February 08, 2024]
On Thursday, February 8, 2024, Inv. E. Whitley asked that I photographed the [REDACTED BY AGENCY] on a 3 year old male. She stated that he was being brought to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office by his mother, [WITNESS #1]. I met with Inv. E. Whitley on the 3rd floor of the Sheriff’s Office, where the Criminal Investigations Division is located. I walked with Inv. E. Whitley, [WITNESS #1], and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to an interview room.
[WITNESS #1] removed [JUVENILE #1]’s shirt and showed me where the [REDACTED BY AGENCY] I photographed these marks. Inv. E. Whitley held a scale up to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] arm and I photographed the marks again.
The photographs were downloaded, placed on a disk, and logged in as evidence for this case file.
This concludes my invovement with this case at this time.
[End of Narrative]