Daycare worker charged with abuse

GLUCKSTADT — A caregiver at a daycare center here remained in the Madison County Detention Center as of Wednesday, charged with four counts of contributing to the neglect or abuse children in her stead.

Madison County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Elizabeth Katherine Ross, 39, of Flora, last Friday morning, less than a week after video surfaced of Ross allegedly mistreating the children in her daycare class.

Captured on surveillance footage, an individual identified as Ross appears to be pulling a chair out from underneath one toddler and carelessly tossing a toddler wrapped inside a blanket.

Chief Deputy Jeremy Williams said that Ross faces three felony counts of child abuse and one misdemeanor charge of contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child. She was given a $76,000 bond — $25,000 for each felony charge and $1,000 bond for the misdemeanor.

Attempts to contact the owners at Little Footprints were unsuccessful. Directors told metro area media outlets in January they had self-reported the incidents in question to the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and Madison County District Attorney’s Office before terminating Ross’ employment.