GRAFTON, W.Va. — Two Taylor County daycare workers face child neglect charges after two toddlers went missing from a Grafton daycare during outdoor playtime.
State police arrested Abigail Paugh, 19, and Kelcee Allen, 30, after the children were reported missing from the Little Feet Daycare facility.
According to initial reports, Paugh told troopers she was at the rear of the group to make sure all the children left the playground and reported to a manager after an initial search of the boys was made. Once inside, she noticed the boys were gone, began searching, and alerted the manager.
According to troopers, staff didn’t realize the toddlers were missing until the rest of the group was already inside.
Workers had just begun searching when a neighbor returned the boys to the daycare, where he told troopers he spotted them near the edge of his property, which borders the facility — not far from a Subway restaurant and US Route 50.
One child’s mother told troopers she was not notified about the incident until her son was already safe and back at the daycare.
Both Paugh and Allen now face child neglect charges.