Nap time at a northside Indianapolis daycare turned into a criminal case after prosecutors say a former worker at The Weston School yanked a 3-year-old off a bookshelf, leaving the child with swollen, bleeding lips. The incident, captured on classroom video according to investigators, has put fresh heat on the center’s discipline and oversight.
What prosecutors allege
According to court documents, the incident happened on Dec. 23, 2025. The room was dark, the children were on cots, and a 3-year-old girl climbed onto a bookshelf. Investigators say the worker grabbed the child and pulled her down in what is described as a “forceful pulling motion,” causing the girl to fall face-first and immediately start crying.
Prosecutors have charged 36-year-old Alexis Ferrell with battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14. Court papers say an initial hearing was set for March 12 and that Ferrell is being held in Marion County custody. Those details are outlined in reporting and the probable-cause affidavit reviewed by WRTV, and related inspection notes were later filed with the state and are available through the Family and Social Services Administration search tool, FSSA CareFinder.
School response and inspection findings
State inspectors cited The Weston School after the incident. In a Jan. 2 finding, an inspector wrote that a “staff member did not use positive discipline when took hold of child’s right arm and pulled from top of bookshelf where child was sitting.” Inspectors also documented a separate toileting-related discipline issue later in January, noting it alongside the bookshelf incident in the center’s record.
In a statement to WRTV, the school said, “The Weston School is aware of criminal charges filed against a former employee related to an incident that occurred in December 2025.” The school told the station it reviewed the classroom footage, placed the employee on leave, then terminated her and self-reported the case to state authorities. Families and the public can review the resulting inspection records and other reports through the state database, FSSA CareFinder.
How parents can review records and report concerns
Parents who want to check a childcare center’s track record can search Indiana’s licensed child care database and view inspection reports online, including any cited violations. It is one of the simplest ways to see if a facility has had recent discipline or safety issues…