Three day care employees charged as investigation of day care abuse continues

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. — A Madison County grand jury has returned indictments against three day care employees following a months-long child abuse investigation led by the Richmond Police Department. The investigation began earlier this year, when authorities arrested Elizabeth Thomas—one of nine individuals connected to the case. This week, Thomas was formally indicted on one count of fourth-degree assault and ten counts of first-degree criminal abuse. Also indicted was Brooklyn Houk, the daughter of day care owner Jessica Houk. She faces charges of first-degree strangulation, knowingly obstructing an investigation, and failure to report child abuse. According to investigators, Houk allegedly placed her hand over the mouth of a four-year-old child, restricting the child’s ability to breathe. Detectives further believe she and others conspired to falsify documents related to a separate incident involving an unsupervised child who left the facility. A third employee, Khrystian Greer, was indicted on one count of first-degree strangulation and one count of first-degree criminal abuse. This report was compiled using information gathered from law enforcement statements, official press releases, and publicly available news sources.

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