A New Port Richey child care center is being investigated after staff left a 4-year-old child at the pool at a recreation center last week.
“It was like the worst feeling and it was really, really scary,” said mom, Britni Shelton.
The incident happened last Thursday.
Shelton said none of the staff told her about what happened while she was at work.
She learned about the incident after someone contacted her mother-in-law.
“When she called the lady that text her, she said there was a situation with Cameron and he got lost and the teacher was not going to let you guys know,” said Shelton.
She said for 20 minutes, Cameron was at the center all by himself.
“They did not realize my son was not with them until they got to the day care,” said Shelton.
A worker from a different day care facility found him.
“They found my kid crying in the corner and they asked him, ‘what is wrong’ and he said, ‘my day care left me,'” Shelton said.
She contacted the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.
The owner of Adventure Learning Center child care said they were advised not to comment by counsel.
Shelton hopes the day care is held accountable.
“I do not want them to get away with this at all because, like I said, for 20 minutes, that is a long time for a 4-year-old to be by himself.”
According to the Department of Children and Families their child care licensing team is actively reviewing the incident. Officials with DCF continue the licensure review.