Lake City Daycare Worker Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison After Infant Suffered Skull Fracture and Brain Bleeding

A former Lake City daycare worker has been sentenced to 20 years in Florida state prison for aggravated child abuse after an infant in her care suffered a fractured skull, detached retinas and significant bleeding on the brain, according to Columbia County court records reported by News4JAX on Nov. 13.

Alyssa Thompson, 30, of Lake City, was sentenced on Oct. 19 and received credit for five months and 16 days already served in jail, the records show. Thompson worked at Wee Care Too, a child care center at 162 NW Gwen Lake Ave. in Lake City, when the injuries happened in April. The court records described in the report do not say whether she pleaded guilty or no contest or was convicted at trial.

The call to Wee Care Too

The case began on Monday, April 20, at about 2:30 p.m., when Lake City Police Department officers were sent to Wee Care Too after a report of an unresponsive infant, according to the department. Emergency medics treated the baby at the scene, police said.

According to the arrest report described by News4JAX, the infant had seizures, lethargy and a fever that day. The baby was taken to HCA Florida Lake City Hospital and then transferred to a pediatric hospital in Gainesville. The daycare's director reviewed the center's security footage and alerted patrol officers to what it showed.

What investigators said the video showed

Detectives reviewed surveillance video from two days, according to the arrest report as summarized by News4JAX. The account below is drawn from that report, which formed the basis of the charge. The first incident described in the report took place a full week before the infant was hospitalized:

In the report, a detective wrote that after one of the incidents the infant "appears to be limp and not moving," according to News4JAX.

The infant's injuries

The baby was examined by the medical director of the Child Protective Team, the state-funded team of medical professionals that evaluates suspected child abuse in Florida. The doctor documented a skull fracture, detached retinas, bleeding behind the eyes and significant bleeding on the brain, according to the arrest report.

The doctor reviewed the surveillance video and concluded the injuries were the result of abuse, according to reports at the time of the arrest. The arrest report quotes the doctor's assessment: "It is a very strong possibility that [the infant] will have lifelong medical issues stemming from these instances."

As of Thompson's arrest on May 4, the infant remained in a pediatric intensive care unit. Neither the police department nor the court records described in the reports provided an update on the child's condition. The Florida Press is not identifying the child or the child's family.

The arrest

Lake City police arrested Thompson on May 4, 2026, two weeks after the call to the daycare, and charged her with aggravated child abuse. Detectives determined that Thompson "physically abused the infant, resulting in severe injuries," the department said at the time. She was booked into the Columbia County Jail and was held without bond, according to reports at the time.

Police Chief Gerald Butler called the case troubling. "This is a deeply disturbing case," Butler said in May. "Our thoughts are with the child and their family." He said the department was "committed to thoroughly investigating incidents like this and ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable."

Police said Wee Care Too cooperated with detectives.

What the daycare said

Thompson was fired after her arrest and no longer works at the center. In a statement reported by News4JAX, Wee Care Too said she had worked there for about three months and was hired after a background check. The center said her previous employer gave her a "very strong recommendation" and confirmed seven years of child care experience.

The daycare told families that "we are here, we are listening, and we are committed to doing what is right."

The charge and the sentence

Under Florida law, aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The charge applies when a person commits aggravated battery on a child, willfully tortures or maliciously punishes a child, or knowingly or willfully abuses a child in a way that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement.

The case was handled in Columbia County, which is part of Florida's Third Judicial Circuit, a seven-county circuit that also includes Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties. The 20-year term is two-thirds of the statutory maximum. The reports did not name the judge or detail any probation or other conditions attached to the sentence, and they did not include comment from the prosecution, the defense or the infant's family at the hearing.

Timeline of the case

The key dates, according to police statements and court records reported by News4JAX:

What's next

Thompson will serve her sentence in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections, where state law generally requires inmates to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. Any appeal would go to Florida's First District Court of Appeal, which hears cases from the Third Judicial Circuit. Parents in Florida can review inspection reports for licensed child care providers through the Florida Department of Children and Families.