A one-year-old Wisconsin baby's parents were left in shock and disbelief after cocaine was found in his system, leading investigators to turn to a local daycare center.
“He's not the same person he used to be,” his mother, Kimberly Hopson, told “Fox & Friends First” on Thursday.
Hopson and the baby's father, James Staples, shared firsthand their terrifying experience, which began when Hopson noticed scrapes and bruises on her son.
“My son is restless now. He used to sleep really well and now I find him tossing and turning in the middle of the night or just sitting there. He's not eating like he used to. He has tantrums. He now has moments where he puts his head on the floor and I can't comfort him. I don't know what's wrong because I'm his mother,” Hopson continued.
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Kimberly Hopson and James Staples, the parents of a toddler who was allegedly exposed to cocaine at a Wisconsin daycare, appeared on “Fox & Friends First” on Thursday. (Fox & Friends First/Screenshot)
“Everything I was doing [would] I want to make him happy, but sometimes I can't.”
According to local reports, after Hopson took the boy to a local children's hospital in Milwaukee earlier this month, the boy's urine sample tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a major metabolite of cocaine.
After finding no evidence of drugs at Hopson's home, investigators turned to Kindercare, where a drug-sniffing dog sniffed out a backpack containing a baggie of white powder believed to belong to one of the daycare staff members.
“Everything goes through your mind. Literally every emotion you can think of goes through your mind,” Hopson said of the discovery, her voice trembling. “It still doesn't seem real. Cocaine is just ridiculous.”
The employee is now reportedly facing criminal charges, and KinderCare itself is facing legal action for negligence.
Vivoree Lamar, an attorney representing the family, told “Fox & Friends First” Thursday that the daycare has had problems in the past.
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In a photo provided by Kimberly Hopson, scars can be seen on her 1-year-old son's body. (Fox & Friends First/Screenshot)
“This facility has had over 23 violations over the past few years, many of which specifically involved the supervision of children. There have been allegations of employees dumping children, which has already been substantiated by violations against the state. [this] Clearly the responsibility of the site [with] “Exposure to cocaine. There's assault and battery so there's a whole host of things we want to allege. Intentional infliction of emotional distress. The list goes on,” he said.
“This is one of the most egregious acts. I work on a lot of very high profile, controversial cases, but this is one that really gave me pause. [it’s] It's really unbelievable.”
In response to the allegations, KinderCare's senior public affairs manager issued the following statement to Fox News: “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the children in our care. We work hard to create healthy spaces to work, play and learn. Drugs, alcohol and tobacco are prohibited in our centers and programs.”
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Kimberly Hopson and her son are seen here photographed together during an appearance on “Fox & Friends First.” (Kimberly Hopson/Fox & Friends First/Screenshot)
The statement continued, “Additionally, all of our employees and staff are required to complete state and federal background checks as a condition of employment. The teacher involved is no longer an employee of KinderCare.”
Staples responded to the statement by questioning where the drug testing took place, noting that the center made no mention of random or pre-employment drug testing.
Parents are now calling for the cameras to be installed in all nurseries across the country.
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Taylor Penley is deputy editor at Fox News.