Two employees at a Des Plaines day care have been charged with battery after surveillance footage captured them abusing seven young boys. The incidents, which occurred in November 2025, involved striking children with objects and hands. No severe injuries were reported among the victims.
Jessica Murillo, 36, and Izabella Thompson, 23, worked at A Mother's Touch Learning Academy on the 1600 block of Rand Road in Des Plaines, Illinois, a suburb about 15 miles northwest of Chicago. They were arrested this week following an investigation into allegations of child abuse captured on video.
The probe began when a parent reported an incident in which a child care provider sprayed a child in the face with water. Day care directors responded by reviewing surveillance footage, suspending Murillo and Thompson, and notifying the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Further review revealed additional footage of abuse between November 3 and November 19, 2025.
On November 24, 2025, the directors, accompanied by a parent, filed a formal report with the Des Plaines Police Department. The investigation confirmed that the pair had battered seven boys aged 4 and 5. While the nature of the contact varied, none required medical attention.
Murillo faces three felony counts of aggravated battery and 12 misdemeanor battery charges. Specific allegations against her include striking a child in the face with a notebook, dragging a 4-year-old boy across the floor by his foot—causing his head to strike the ground—and slapping another child in the face multiple times. She is scheduled to appear in Second District Municipal Court in Skokie on Wednesday.
Thompson is charged with four misdemeanor battery counts, though details of her actions were not specified in the police release. Her court date is set for March 30.
Des Plaines Police Chief David Anderson stated, "Our hearts go out to the children and families affected by this troubling case. 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 Day Care for acting quickly, alerting authorities, and fully cooperating with our investigators."