The Brief
- A FOX 35 records inspection has revealed that Luv-N-Hugs daycare in Fruitland Park has been cited by the state more than 10 times over the past three years for critical compliance failures.
- The public DCF reports show a history of violations including unsafe child-to-staff ratios, missing employee background checks, and structural hazards like exposed playground nails and standing water.
- This safety review comes on the heels of employee Halee Russo’s arrest for child neglect after a toddler escaped the facility’s playground and ran onto a six-lane highway.
FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. – After a young child was seen running across U.S. 27 in Lake County before being returned to a nearby daycare, FOX 35 uncovered several citations from the Florida Department of Children and Families for this same daycare over the past three years.
FOX 35’s Esther Bower identified repeated citations at Luv-N-Hugs, a daycare located in Fruitland Park off U.S. 27.
According to the DCF reports – which range from June 1, 2023, to as recent as June 12, 2026 – DCF documented several citations for inadequate child to childcare personnel supervision ratios, sanitation issues and lack of required training.
Reports: Several violations during DCF visits
What we know:…