A Nevada mother who arrived to pick up her 9-year-old son from a child care center plans to sue after discovering her son’s hands bound behind his back.
Kala Hall, whose age was not disclosed, spoke with Las Vegas-based CBS affiliate KLAS about finding her 9-year-old son Kody when she arrived to pick him up on March 20. She informed the outlet that when she arrived, her son’s hands were bound behind his back.
When she discovered him, she stated that he “appeared dead.”
Hall told KLAS that “[H]e appeared dead to me.” He lay on his stomach. His mouth was open. His head was tilted, and no one had a response for me.”
Hall informed KLAS that her son has autism but is verbal. Despite his ability to speak, he did not tell his mother what had happened.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police investigated the incident after Hall reported it to them, but they declined to pursue a criminal investigation. According to KLAS, detectives observed Kody playing with the blanket that was wrapped around him. The police stated in an email to KLAS that “evidence does not support the claim that a crime was committed.”
In their coverage of the initial police report, KLAS stated that officers did not believe Kody or a student could have bound the 9-year-old. An employee also allegedly told police that the kids were playing “cops and robbers.”
Hall indicated that she intended to sue the facility. Her attorney, Ramzy Ladah of Ladah Law Firm, cited alleged negligence on the part of the facility’s managers and staff. He told KLAS that the lawsuit was not “just about Kody.” It is about ensuring that day care facilities provide proper care for children and do not abuse them.
After reporting the incident to KLAS’ investigative unit, Hall was shown surveillance video from inside the room where Kody was allegedly bound. But she claimed that her son couldn’t be seen on camera.
Nonetheless, one of the facility’s employees allegedly claimed “she could only see his feet,” but Hall told KLAS, “I find it very hard that she could not see him.” Hall also informed KLAS that she believed the same employee was using her cellphone at the time.
KLAS contacted Cherished Legacy Academy and stated that they “acted swiftly to communicate with the family, reported the incident to local authorities, and immediately conducted an internal investigation.”
After reviewing the video footage and conducting interviews and on-site visits, the licensing board “did not indicate any violations related to this incident, and authorities have closed their case.”
A spokesperson for Nevada’s Child Care and Development Program told KLAS that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
