A Nevada mother, whose 9-year-old son with autism was found at a child care center with his hands bound behind his back, plans to file a lawsuit against the facility.
Kala Hall, who spoke with Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS, described how she found her son, Kody, when she arrived to pick him up on March 20. She said her son’s hands were tied behind his back, and when she discovered him, he “appeared dead.”
Hall shared with KLAS, “He was on his stomach. His mouth was open. His head was tilted, and no one had an answer for me.” She also noted that her son, though verbal, didn’t explain what happened when she asked him.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police investigated the incident but decided not to pursue criminal charges. According to KLAS, detectives mentioned that Kody was seen playing with a blanket that was wrapped around him. Authorities stated that the evidence did not support the claim of a crime being committed.
KLAS further reported that officers didn’t believe Kody or another child could have bound him, and one employee mentioned that the children were playing “cops and robbers” at the time.
Hall, however, plans to sue the child care center, citing negligence by its staff and management. Her attorney, Ramzy Ladah of Ladah Law Firm, emphasized that the lawsuit wasn’t just about Kody, but about ensuring that day cares properly care for children and prevent abuse.
Hall was shown surveillance footage from the room where the incident allegedly occurred, but Kody was not visible on the video. One employee claimed she could only see his feet, which Hall found suspicious, especially since she believed the employee was using her cellphone at the time.
KLAS reached out to Cherished Legacy Academy, and the facility responded by stating they had acted promptly by communicating with the family, reporting the incident to authorities, and conducting an internal investigation. After reviewing the video footage and conducting interviews, the licensing board concluded there were no violations, and the authorities closed the case. However, a spokesperson from Nevada’s Child Care and Development Program confirmed to KLAS that the investigation is ongoing.
