DICKSON, TENNESSEE — A former day care employee has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after authorities say she repeatedly slammed a 13-month-old girl into a cot, causing serious injuries and sparking one of the region’s most disturbing child-abuse cases in recent years.
Sarah Jo Fuson, 24, was convicted of aggravated child abuse and child abuse after a jury found that she violently handled the toddler during a January 2023 incident at Tylertown Learning Center in Clarksville. The sentencing was delivered this week, bringing closure to a case that outraged parents and community members across Tennessee.
The Violent Incident Revealed Through Day Care Video
During the investigation, staff discovered video footage showing the toddler resisting nap time while Fuson forcefully shoved her onto a cot multiple times. On the final shove, the child’s head landed near the edge of the cot, after which she remained motionless until waking from her nap.
Medical examinations later found signs consistent with a concussion or a possible skull injury. The video surfaced only after the child returned home with bruises on her arms, prompting her parents to demand answers. Fuson was fired shortly afterward, and a criminal investigation began.
Judge Cites Defendant’s Own Words During Sentencing
During her sentencing hearing, the judge referenced Fuson’s own statements, noting that she repeatedly insisted, “I shouldn’t f—ing be here, I didn’t do anything.”…