Miss Mary’s Daycare in Eureka Springs, located on 122 Frontage Road off of Hwy. 23 South, has been closed.
“The DHS [Department of Human Services] Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education received a licensing complaint and visited Miss Mary’s in Eureka Springs and requested the owner relinquish her child care license on March 20,” DHS Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer Amy Webb said. “The owner agreed to do so. The request was based on information our agency received related to an alleged licensing violation in area of inappropriate behavior guidance.”
Webb said any allegations or investigations related to child maltreatment are confidential by law and she could neither confirm nor deny whether there was such an allegation.
Arkansas State Police are investigating the case, but Public Information Officer Bill Sadler said no information could be released. Any investigative records of children who were clients at the daycare are confidential and protected by state law.
“An Arkansas State Police criminal investigation remains open and active,” Sadler said. “The Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney will be kept apprised of the investigation. Whether any criminal charges may arise will be a matter for the prosecuting attorney to consider.”
The Miss Mary’s Daycare website said they take care of children starting at six weeks old.
“We take care of newborns and up,” the website said. “We will love your little ones as if they were ours. We help prepare your little ones for school as well as important life skills from teaching the ABCs to safety. Here at Miss Mary’s, we’re state certified and well prepared to take care of your children. We are the only Arkansas Better Beginnings approved facility in Eureka Springs.”
Calls to Miss Mary’s Daycare for comment were not returned prior to deadline.