"The staff members involved are no longer employed by our school,” a spokesperson for A Mother’s Touch Learning Academy tells PEOPLE
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NEED TO KNOW
- Two daycare workers in Illinois have been arrested and charged on multiple counts of battery
- The Des Plaines Police Department identified 36-year-old Jessica Murillo and 23-year-old Izabella Thompson as the accused
- After a parent complained about an alleged incident at A Mother’s Touch Daycare, an investigation was launched
Two women employed at an Illinois daycare have been arrested and charged with multiple offenses after surveillance footage showed them allegedly abusing children.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Des Plaines Police Department announced in a press release that Jessica Murillo, 36, and Izabella Thompson, 23, were charged with multiple battery offenses related to incidents alleged to have taken place at A Mother's Touch Daycare in Des Plaines between Nov. 3 and Nov. 19, 2025.
Daycare directors were first alerted on Nov. 20, after a parent alleged that one of the childcare providers “sprayed a child in the face with water in a classroom.”
An internal investigation was launched, and after reviewing footage and contacting the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), both Murillo and Thompson were suspended.
“Daycare Directors continued their investigation and discovered additional video evidence of Murillo and Thompson battering multiple children between November 3 and November 19, 2025. On November 24, the Directors, accompanied by one of the child's parents, went to the Des Plaines Police Department and filed a formal report,” the press release said.
Once the Des Plaines Police Department became involved in the investigation, officers said “seven male children, aged four to five, were battered by either Murillo or Thompson” during that November timeframe.
“While the nature of the contact varied, no children required medical attention or suffered severe physical injuries,” police said.
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Murillo allegedly hit a child in the face with a notebook, dragged a 4-year-old boy across the floor by his foot, causing his head to strike the ground. She is also accused of striking another child in the face multiple times with an open hand, according to police.
The 36-year-old was charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery and 12 misdemeanor counts of battery (Making Physical Contact of an Insulting or Provoking Nature).
Thompson was charged with four misdemeanor counts of battery (Making Physical Contact of an Insulting or Provoking Nature).
A spokesperson for A Mother’s Touch Learning Academy tells PEOPLE, “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,” the statement concludes.
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It is not immediately known if Murillo or Thompson have retained attorneys.
"Our hearts go out to the children and families affected by this troubling case,” Des Plaines Police Chief David Anderson said in a statement. "This was a painful breach of trust by individuals entrusted with the care of young children. I want to thank the directors and staff of A Mother's Touch Daycare for acting quickly, alerting authorities, and fully cooperating with our investigators.”
Murillo's first court appearance is set for Feb. 25. Thompson will appear in court on March 30.
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