Police: Women Abused at Least 3 Toddlers at Minnieland

Two former Minnieland Academy at The Glen employees charged with cruelty to a child, assault and battery.

Two former Minnieland Academy at The Glen employees have been charged with abusing several toddlers in their care, Prince William County Police announced Monday.

Kierra Nicole Spriggs, 24, of Woodbridge and Sarah A. Jordan, 29, also of Woodbridge, were both charged with two counts each of cruelty or injury to a child and assault and battery.

Between January and August of this year, investigators say, Spriggs and Jordan allegedly assaulted and abused at least three children between the ages of 1 and 2 at the Woodbridge daycare.

Authorities began their investigation earlier this month after a report from the Virginia Department of Social Services claimed workers at the childcare facility stomped on children's bare toes, covered their mouths with blankets and sprayed them with full pressure hoses, among other alleged abuses.

Additional charges are pending.

Parents told News4's Northern Virginia Bureau they noticed changes in their children’s behavior during the time of the alleged abuse.

Shanna Greisen said before she pulled her 21-month-old son out of Minnieland, he dreaded going to daycare.

"He would just cry," she said. "He would throw himself on the floor, you know. Just, 'No, Mommy; no, Mommy'."

She also noticed her son’s new fear of water.

"He won't go in the bathtub," she said. "He won't go in the big bathtub... The only way we can bathe him is in the sink."

Minnieland says it fired the teachers involved. Minnieland has 55 locations in Northern Virginia.

"If something did happen, I just hope that it's exposed and there are appropriate consequences," Greisen said.

Minnieland COO Chris Schuster directed the Northern Virginia Bureau to a video posted by the company’s owners, Jackie and Chuck Leopold.

In the meantime, parents are consulting attorneys to determine whether they want to take legal action against Minnieland.

Stay with NBCWashington for more on this developing story.

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