Alabama Daycare Workers Jailed After Child Abuse Case Involving Physical Assault
ALABAMA Two women have been sentenced to prison after admitting to abusing young children placed in their care at the Happy Hearts Christian Academy daycare center.
Kailey Gilley and Magan Koker were taken into custody and booked into the Dale County Jail on October 10, 2024, following an investigation into allegations of severe mistreatment at the facility. At the time of their arrest, Gilley faced two counts of torture or willful abuse of a child not related to her and nine counts of aggravated child abuse. Koker was charged with four counts of torture or willful abuse and eight counts of aggravated child abuse.
Under Alabama state law, torture or willful abuse of a child is classified as a Class C felony. The statute defines the offense as a responsible person who tortures, willfully abuses, mistreats, cruelly beats, or otherwise maltreats a child under the age of 18. Aggravated child abuse is considered a more serious Class B felony.
On Monday, January 5, family members of the victims appeared in court and shared testimony describing the impact of the abuse. According to reports cited by WTVY, several of the children involved were too young to speak and were unable to communicate what they were experiencing. One child, whose identity has not been released, was reported to have suffered the majority of the abuse.
During court proceedings, a mother told the judge that she had viewed video footage showing the two women taking turns striking her child. The child reportedly developed bruising and swelling and was later taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. The injuries prompted a police investigation into the daycare center.
Police Chief John Crawford previously stated that officers met with the child’s parents, who said the injuries were discovered after picking the child up from the daycare. According to police, the parents reported that the bruises were not present earlier that same day.
Other parents also addressed the court, explaining that their children continue to suffer emotional distress linked to the abuse. Some reported ongoing issues such as night terrors and difficulty feeling safe in new daycare environments.
Both Gilley and Koker entered blind plea agreements, meaning there was no predetermined sentence included in the deal. Judge William Filmore sentenced each woman to five years in prison followed by three years of probation. The court ruled that neither defendant would be eligible for parole or early release.
Happy Hearts Christian Academy Daycare has reportedly remained closed since the arrests of Gilley and Koker.
Data from the Alabama Department of Public Health indicates that child abuse cases increased over a three-year period. In 2015, the state recorded 8,466 child maltreatment victims. By 2018, that number had risen to 12,158. In 2019, Alabama reported 10.7 child maltreatment victims per 1,000 children, with child fatalities at a rate of 3.1 per 100,000 children. More recent figures from Child Welfare Outcomes show that in 2023, there were 11,636 minors in Alabama identified as victims of maltreatment.
Anyone who suspects child abuse or needs help can contact the Child Help Hotline by calling or texting 1-800-422-4453.
