The state on Friday ordered the closure of a Lincolnshire daycare center after an employee was charged with murder in the Jan. 14 death of a 16-month-old child at the center.
Minee Subee in the Park has been ordered closed "pending the outcome of criminal and child protection investigations," a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Benjamin Kingan, just 16 months old, died shortly after being thrown to the ground. The center's employee, 22-year-old Melissa Calusinski, reportedly told police that she slammed the child on the ground after having "issues" with the children in the room.
Police said Kingan picked up his blanket and crawled to a chair they identified as the boy's "comfort zone."
Calusinski, who neighbors said "loved kids" and had "a lot of patience," has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $5 million bond.
She plead not guilty last week and said she was "heartbroken for the victim and the victim's family."
