Orlando police this week arrest a former day care teacher, who now faces sexabuse charges.
Preschooler told parents he was touched during nap time
For the parents of a 5-year-old boy who said his preschool teacher sexually abused him during nap time, the former teacher’s arrest Tuesday brought relief — but also the solemn realization that the nightmare they have been living is real, they said.
Orlando police arrested the ex-teacher, 25-year-old Jayrico Jayrice Hamilton, several months after parents of two boys filed lawsuits against Hamilton and Bright Horizons Children’s Centers.
The parents of one of the boys spoke outside the day care Wednesday afternoon. Their son was 4 years old in May when he told them Hamilton touched him.
“Bright Horizons let us down, and Jayrico Hamilton hurt us,” the father said, his voice cracking. The boy told forensic interviewers that Hamilton put his mouth on the child’s penis “kind of every day” while other children were sleeping during nap times, according to an arrest report. The child also described other touching and said Hamilton would kiss him on the mouth, the arrest report states.
“This is the worst thing that has ever happened to us,” the father said. He raised a trembling hand to cover his mouth. His wife clung to his arm as a tear rolled down her face. “Our son was healthy and happy before coming here, and now he’s a diminished child.”
The day-care center is on probation as part of a settlement Bright Horizons reached with the state Department of Children and Families in October. Hamilton, 25, was fired in May.
Hamilton was on an abuse registry in Virginia and should not have been hired by Bright Horizons, said the parents’ lawyer, Jeff Herman.
“This is the case that never should have happened,” Herman said. “Jayrico Hamilton should never have been near their little boy.”
After the boy told his par-
“The well-being of the children in our care is our primary concern. We have fully supported the investigation of this case ... ” Bridget Perry, Bright Horizons Family Solutions spokeswoman
ents, he denied having made the accusation during an initial interview with investigators, records show. But during subsequent therapy sessions, he talked about the abuse. He spoke with forensic interviewers again in January.
Witnesses who were interviewed, including another teacher, said they saw odd behavior. Hamilton showed favoritism to the boy and read to him on the floor as the child lay on Hamilton’s chest, they said.
Hamilton, now an insurance representative, was arrested at his workplace in Winter Park. He is being held in the Orange County Jail without bail.
Hamilton faces charges of capital sexual battery, child abuse and lewd conduct and molestation.
The day care responded with a written statement, sent by Bright Horizons Family Solutions spokeswoman Bridget Perry.
“The well-being of the children in our care is our primary concern. We have fully supported the investigation of this case since it began and worked closely with the local agencies as they have reviewed the situation. We have also been communicating directly with our families throughout this situation,” Perry said. “We were deeply troubled to learn of this new development, and we are committed to supporting our families in any way we can.”
A 3-year-old boy also told an adult that Hamilton touched his penis.
But in a forensic interview, the child “was not able to provide consistent details as to this contact,” according to the arrest report. Investigators were “unable to state” if the child had been a victim of sexual abuse, the detective wrote. That child’s parents are also part of the lawsuit against Hamilton and Bright Horizons.