Day care worker who allegedly beat 1-year-old boy black and blue released on bail
Thurston allegedly beat 1-year-old Clay Weeks on his first day at daycare. Cory Weeks/Facebook
A Georgia day care worker accused of brutally assaulting a 1-year-old boy was released from jail last month on bond — sparking a wave of threats directed at the judge who approved her release.
Yvette Thurston, 54, was arrested on August 11 and charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse and one count of first-degree aggravated battery. She was released on a $44,000 bond five days later, on August 16.
The release drew outrage, including threats against Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Rose-Emmons, who presided over the case and approved the bond. District Attorney Joe Mulholland of the South Georgia Circuit swiftly condemned the threats, calling them unacceptable.
“Our office will not tolerate abuse of children in our community — nor will we tolerate threats against our judges, who are doing their sworn duty under Georgia law,” Mulholland said in a statement. “Anyone who seeks to threaten our judicial system or the safety of our children will be dealt with swiftly and harshly.”
He emphasized that the rule of law must be respected, even when judicial decisions are unpopular. “Judges deserve to carry out their duties without fearing for their safety,” he said. “If you threaten them or their families, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Thurston’s arrest followed a report from the family of 1-year-old Clay Weeks, who returned home from Little Blessings Child Care in Bainbridge — near the Florida border — with severe facial injuries. Photos shared by his father, U.S. Marine Cory Weeks, showed the toddler with a swollen black eye, bloodied scrapes, and bruises across his face.
Initially, the family was told that another toddler had hit Clay with a toy. However, upon reviewing surveillance footage, Cory and his wife said they discovered evidence allegedly showing Thurston striking their son.
Despite his disappointment over Thurston’s release, Weeks urged the public to have patience with the legal process. “I was told this would likely happen because that’s how our justice system works,” he wrote on Facebook. “Of course, my wife and I don’t agree with it, but we don’t get to make that decision. It’s important we allow investigators and the legal system to do their job to get the outcome we all want.”
He added that Clay is recovering well and is receiving frequent medical evaluations. The couple’s older son, 3-year-old Wyatt, also attended the day care but was not harmed.
In response to the incident, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning issued an “emergency closure” order for the facility while the investigation continues.
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