Two Des Plaines daycare employees, Jessica Murillo (36) and Izabella Thompson (23), were arrested after surveillance video allegedly showed them abusing children at A Mother's Touch Daycare between Nov. 3 and Nov. 19, 2025. Police say seven boys ages four to five were battered; none required medical treatment. Murillo faces three felony aggravated-battery charges and 12 misdemeanor counts, while Thompson faces four misdemeanor battery counts. The daycare suspended the staff, notified DCFS and police, and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Two Des Plaines Daycare Workers Arrested After Surveillance Shows Alleged Abuse of Young Children
A Mother's Touch Learning Academy in Des Plaines, Ill.Credit: Google Maps
Two women employed at a Des Plaines, Illinois daycare have been arrested and charged after surveillance footage allegedly showed them physically abusing children in their care.
Who Was Arrested: The Des Plaines Police Department identified the suspects as 36-year-old Jessica Murillo and 23-year-old Izabella Thompson. Police say the alleged incidents occurred at A Mother's Touch Daycare between Nov. 3 and Nov. 19, 2025.
How the Case Came to Light
Daycare directors were first alerted on Nov. 20 when a parent reported that a staff member had sprayed a child in the face with water inside a classroom. That complaint prompted an internal review and a notification to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Both employees were suspended while the facility conducted its initial inquiry.
During the internal review, directors discovered additional footage showing further alleged incidents. On Nov. 24, the daycare directors, accompanied by one of the children's parents, filed a formal complaint with the Des Plaines Police Department.
Allegations and Charges
According to police, investigators reviewed video evidence and determined that seven male children, all aged four to five, were battered by either Murillo or Thompson during the November timeframe. Police noted the nature of contact varied and said no children required medical attention or suffered severe physical injuries.
Specific allegations against Murillo include hitting a child in the face with a notebook; dragging a 4-year-old boy across the floor by his foot, causing his head to strike the ground; and striking another child in the face multiple times with an open hand.
Murillo was charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery and 12 misdemeanor counts of battery (described as making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature). Thompson faces four misdemeanor counts of battery of the same description.
Responses And Next Steps
A spokesperson for A Mother’s Touch Learning Academy said the safety and well-being of children is the school's top priority. The school stated it removed the staff members as soon as the conduct was identified, notified DCFS and law enforcement, and is cooperating with the ongoing review. The two staff members are no longer employed by the facility.
Des Plaines Police Chief David Anderson said the incidents represent a painful breach of trust by individuals entrusted with caring for young children and praised the daycare directors and staff for acting quickly and cooperating with investigators.
It was not immediately clear whether Murillo or Thompson had retained attorneys. Court dates listed in the police release include Murillo's initial appearance on Feb. 25 and Thompson's on March 30 (years as reported by the original source). The investigation by police and DCFS remains ongoing.
Note: The source material includes a Nov. 3–19, 2025 timeframe for the alleged incidents and an announcement dated Feb. 24; dates are presented here as in the source material.
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