A day care worker in Georgia who was charged last month for allegedly beating a 1-year-old until his face was black-and-blue was released after posting bail — and the judge who released her received a firestorm of threats.
Yvette Thurston, 54, was let go on a $44,000 bond on Aug. 16 after she was charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse and one of first-degree aggravated battery.
Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Rose-Emmons, the judge overseeing Thurston’s case, was subjected to death threats after granting the alleged abuser bond.
District Attorney Joe Mulholland, who is with the South Georgia Circuit, was quick to come to Rose-Emmons’ defense and condemned the threats of violence against her.
“Our office will not tolerate abuse of the children in our community, who are entrusted to others for their safety while their parents work to make a living. Likewise, we will not tolerate threats against our judges, who are carrying out their sworn duty under the laws of the State of Georgia,” he wrote in a statement.
“Any individual who seeks to undermine the safety of our children or the integrity of our judicial system by making threats will be dealt with swiftly and harshly.
“The rule of law is the foundation of our community. Our judges deserve to perform their duties without fear for their safety,” Mulholland continued. “You may not like their decisions, but you don’t have the right to threaten them or their families. If you do, you will be prosecuted by my office to the full extent of the law.”
Thurston was arrested on Aug. 11 after a family at the Little Blessings Child Care in Bainbridge, close to the Florida border, reported their 1-year-old’s grisly injuries suffered at day care one day.
Cory Weeks, a US Marine, shared pictures of his battered son, Clay, on Facebook. The tyke looked into the camera lens the best he could as one blackened eye was nearly swollen shut. He also had a litany of bloodied scrapes along his cheeks and around his mouth.
Weeks said that he was originally told that another toddler had smacked Clay with a plastic toy — but surveillance footage he and his wife later tracked down allegedly showed Thurston walloping their son.
Weeks also voiced support for the teams involved in the case, even though he was disappointed by Thurston’s release.
“I am aware that the woman that did this is no longer behind bars. Honestly, I was told this would likely happen because that is how our justice system works. Of course my wife and I do not agree with this, but we don’t get to ultimately make that decision. It is important that we all allow the investigators and legal system to thoroughly complete their responsibilities to achieve the result WE ALL WANT,” he wrote on Facebook.
Weeks assured that his son is under frequent evaluation and is making a good recovery “surrounded with love.”
The family’s other son, 3-year-old Wyatt, also attended the church day care but was uninjured.
The day care itself was swiftly issued an “emergency closure” by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning while an investigation into what led up to Clay’s injuries is ongoing.
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