News
Girl, 5, found near Hwy. 80 after wandering off from day care
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Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A Benson mother was relieved but concerned last Wednesday when her 5-year-old daughter was found walking along State Route 80 after she wandered away from the Tree House Daycare Center on 5th Street.
Tina Jones said she received a call from the daycare center that staff had been unable to find her daughter, Jessica. Jones said she was upset to find out that they had not yet notified police.
Police Chief Paul Moncada said they never received a call from the daycare center. A couple who found Jessica along SR-80 about a mile from the facility called the police.
The daycare center's notifying Jones that her daughter was missing roughly coincided with the police finding her, Moncada said.
Tree Jones, owner of the daycare center, said Jessica told the teacher on duty she was going to use the restroom around naptime. The teacher later thought Jessica was taking too long in the bathroom and checked on her. She was gone.
Moncada said it's hard to track down the exact amount of time Jessica was walking. The daycare center could not give the police a time for when Jessica went to the bathroom and they noticed she was missing, he said.
"I am very upset with the severity of how quickly this daycare center did not react," Jones said. "Their security is not good enough to protect my children. The police found her, but she could have been hurt or taken."
Tree Jones said the daycare center understands the severity of the situation, and the mother was given the option to have the teacher on duty at the time fired. Tina Jones did not take that option, she said.
The daycare center has since purchased door alarms, said owner and operator Tree Jones.
Police recovered Jessica walking near the La Habra Apartments on SR-80, nearly a mile from the daycare center around 12:30 p.m. An out-of-state couple saw Jessica and pulled over, watching her until police arrived.
Jessica's father, Chad Jones, said while he doesn't know the couple, he is grateful they pulled over.
Tina Jones said she is upset not only that her daughter had managed to walk a mile, but also that she was wearing neither shoes nor a jacket despite the rainy, windy weather. Jones said she recently started taking her four children to the daycare center while she works during the day.
"Like other parents that work in this town, we just don't have a lot of choice for childcare," Jones said. "The daycare center said they were frustrated over what happened, but to me, they seemed more concerned with whether or not I would be taking legal action. They weren't looking at what needs to happen to protect these children. I am worried about the safety of all these children, and not just my own."
Jones said because her daughter is safe, she wasn't even thinking about legal action, noting she was just grateful for the good outcome.
The mother of five said she did talk to Jessica about what had happened, telling her that the police found her, but sometimes "people take children," and she can't ever just leave the daycare center or home.
Jones said Jessica told her she left from the front gate of the daycare facility "to find her mommy."
However, Jones said she has no idea how Jessica ended up on SR-80, since they do not live there, and she doesn't work in the area either.
It is assumed that Jessica walked east on 5th Street until she got to SR-80, where she started walking south.
Chad Jones said he also is concerned with the lack of choices Benson residents have in childcare.
"I am glad my daughter is home and safe, but I am very upset that the daycare allowed my daughter out of their sight long enough for her to end up a mile or so away on a highway barefoot and without a jacket in the rain," he said. "I believe the daycare should be held accountable for their actions and that this incident should be brought to the attention of every citizen in Benson."
The safety and well-being of the children should be the daycare center's top priority, Jones said.
"The employees of this daycare are paid to provide a service, which is the safety and welfare of our children," he said. "So, like most jobs, if that service is not done properly, termination should occur, and management should be the first to be looked at."
A Benson mother was relieved but concerned last Wednesday when her 5-year-old daughter was found walking along State Route 80 after she wandered away from the Tree House Daycare Center on 5th Street.
Tina Jones said she received a call from the daycare center that staff had been unable to find her daughter, Jessica. Jones said she was upset to find out that they had not yet notified police.
Police Chief Paul Moncada said they never received a call from the daycare center. A couple who found Jessica along SR-80 about a mile from the facility called the police.
The daycare center's notifying Jones that her daughter was missing roughly coincided with the police finding her, Moncada said.
Tree Jones, owner of the daycare center, said Jessica told the teacher on duty she was going to use the restroom around naptime. The teacher later thought Jessica was taking too long in the bathroom and checked on her. She was gone.
Moncada said it's hard to track down the exact amount of time Jessica was walking. The daycare center could not give the police a time for when Jessica went to the bathroom and they noticed she was missing, he said.
"I am very upset with the severity of how quickly this daycare center did not react," Jones said. "Their security is not good enough to protect my children. The police found her, but she could have been hurt or taken."
Tree Jones said the daycare center understands the severity of the situation, and the mother was given the option to have the teacher on duty at the time fired. Tina Jones did not take that option, she said.
The daycare center has since purchased door alarms, said owner and operator Tree Jones.
Police recovered Jessica walking near the La Habra Apartments on SR-80, nearly a mile from the daycare center around 12:30 p.m. An out-of-state couple saw Jessica and pulled over, watching her until police arrived.
Jessica's father, Chad Jones, said while he doesn't know the couple, he is grateful they pulled over.
Tina Jones said she is upset not only that her daughter had managed to walk a mile, but also that she was wearing neither shoes nor a jacket despite the rainy, windy weather. Jones said she recently started taking her four children to the daycare center while she works during the day.
"Like other parents that work in this town, we just don't have a lot of choice for childcare," Jones said. "The daycare center said they were frustrated over what happened, but to me, they seemed more concerned with whether or not I would be taking legal action. They weren't looking at what needs to happen to protect these children. I am worried about the safety of all these children, and not just my own."
Jones said because her daughter is safe, she wasn't even thinking about legal action, noting she was just grateful for the good outcome.
The mother of five said she did talk to Jessica about what had happened, telling her that the police found her, but sometimes "people take children," and she can't ever just leave the daycare center or home.
Jones said Jessica told her she left from the front gate of the daycare facility "to find her mommy."
However, Jones said she has no idea how Jessica ended up on SR-80, since they do not live there, and she doesn't work in the area either.
It is assumed that Jessica walked east on 5th Street until she got to SR-80, where she started walking south.
Chad Jones said he also is concerned with the lack of choices Benson residents have in childcare.
"I am glad my daughter is home and safe, but I am very upset that the daycare allowed my daughter out of their sight long enough for her to end up a mile or so away on a highway barefoot and without a jacket in the rain," he said. "I believe the daycare should be held accountable for their actions and that this incident should be brought to the attention of every citizen in Benson."
The safety and well-being of the children should be the daycare center's top priority, Jones said.
"The employees of this daycare are paid to provide a service, which is the safety and welfare of our children," he said. "So, like most jobs, if that service is not done properly, termination should occur, and management should be the first to be looked at."
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