Day care forgot child at park, mom says

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque mom said her toddler's day care abandoned the little girl at a park and didn't realize she was missing for more than an hour.

Stacy Baker said her daughter, Amanda, 3, went to Grisham Park near Carlisle Boulevard and Comanche Road NE on Thursday with her classmates and two teachers from Altamonte Day Care for an Easter egg hunt. Baker said when the group packed up to leave, Amanda was left behind.

Baker said another woman saw Amanda alone at the park and contacted police.

"The police officer had come and picked up Amanda and took her around the different day cares to find out which school Amanda had came from," said Baker. "(The day care director) had called me saying, 'I don't know how to tell you this" and just started crying.

"She said, 'Your daughter was left at the park, and the police officer is bringing her to the school.'"

Baker said she was "paralyzed" by the phone call.

"I go anywhere and I turn and see if I left anything behind," said Baker. "How do you live a kid behind at a park?"

Baker said the girl was separated from the day care for an hour and a half.

"It's infuriating because I was sitting at home across the street not knowing my daughter was missing," said Baker.

Altamonte Day Care was closed for the holiday on Friday, but the director responded to KRQE News 13's calls for comment.

"During our five years of operation, this is the first such incident we have had regarding the safety of one of our children," she said.  "We have always had established policies and procedures for field trips, and they were ignored by the two teachers in charge of this group.

"Both employees were immediately terminated, and we have already reviewed the procedures for field trips with our remaining employees to ensure the complete safety of the children under our care."

Baker said she feels lucky that things weren't worse.

"I'm just really grateful there were angels watching out for her that day," said Baker.