My Sunshine Child Development Center Faces Lawsuit After Allegations of Child Abuse
MYRTLE BEACH — A lawsuit has emerged in our community that’s sending shockwaves through local parents. An Horry County mother, Rachel Sheridan, is taking her concerns to court against the My Sunshine Child Development Center. The allegations stem from an incident in February involving her three-year-old daughter, referred to as “D.E.S.” in the legal documents. According to Sheridan’s claims, the daycare didn’t do enough to keep her daughter safe from a former employee, which no parent ever wants to hear when they drop their child off for the day.
The details are quite alarming. Sheridan claims that My Sunshine was negligent, asserting they failed to protect D.E.S. from potential harm at the hands of a former supervisor, Alexandria Allabaugh. The complaint states that Sheridan had expected a warm, loving environment for her little one, but the events that unfolded were anything but that.
What Happened?
In February, after D.E.S. transferred to Allabaugh’s class, Sheridan noticed changes in her daughter’s behavior, which began raising red flags. D.E.S. started complaining about the noise levels in her class and the pressures of potty training. Then on February 14, things took a turn for the worse. Following a particularly unsettling day, D.E.S. came home more anxious than usual, exhibiting signs of distress and unwillingness to be left alone.
Things escalated on February 16 when shareholders from the daycare contacted Sheridan. They informed her that Allabaugh had been fired due to abuse allegations. The director assured her that the incidents had been recorded on video, leaving parents understandably shaken. It was revealed in the lawsuit that the footage reportedly showed Allabaugh kicking, yelling at, and dragging children, including D.E.S., in the classroom.
Legal Consequences and Responses
Allabaugh was arrested a few weeks later, facing nine counts of unlawful conduct toward children. Just to give an idea of how serious the situation was, she later accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree assault and battery. She’s currently serving a suspended sentence and will be on probation.
In response to the lawsuit, My Sunshine has officially denied any wrongdoing. Court documents filed by the daycare maintain that they acted promptly by terminating Allabaugh as soon as they received the allegations. They claim her conduct was not known prior to her firing, which certainly complicates matters. This back-and-forth is already drawing significant attention from parents and community members who are now questioning safety standards at local child care facilities.
What’s Next?
As of now, Sheridan is seeking unspecified monetary damages, hoping that this lawsuit might spark change and ensure that similar incidents do not happen again. The suit reflects a chilling reality for parents who trust these institutions with their children’s safety.
My Sunshine Child Development Center runs locations in Socastee and Pawleys Island, and it’s important for parents in our area to pay attention to what’s going on here. With the safety of our little ones at stake, the community is watching closely.
As things develop, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on this critical situation, and we encourage parents to keep the conversation going—after all, our children’s safety should always come first!
