At a Glance
- A 3-year-old girl sustained bite marks, scratches and facial bruising at Sunshine House Early Learning Center in Stockbridge, Georgia.
- State investigators found staff failed to meet supervision criteria and left another child alone for five minutes.
- The facility says the incident involved “a dispute over a toy” but declined further comment.
Why it matters: Parents are demanding accountability after state records confirm inadequate supervision during the attack.
A Georgia father is publicly condemning a Stockbridge day care after his 3-year-old daughter was bitten and scratched on Nov. 18 while staff allegedly paid no attention.
Ralph Culpepper told Atlanta’s WSB that the injuries occurred during the school day at Sunshine House Early Learning Center. He claims adults in the classroom never intervened.
Injuries documented by doctor
According to the family’s physician, the child had:
- A human bite on her face
- Scratches across her nose and around both eyes
- Blunt force trauma to her head
Culpepper says administrators initially described the event as a minor bump. “They made it seem like she was bumped into, or like they were just pulling over a toy,” he told WSB. “When we got to the school and we saw her face – we saw scratches, there were bruises, she had bleeding. It was multiple scratches.”
State substantiates complaint
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning opened an investigation after receiving the complaint on Nov. 19. A spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles the claim was substantiated.
The department’s report, shared with News Of Los Angeles, lists the following findings:
| Finding | Details |
|---|---|
| Injuries | Bite marks to shoulder and face, bruising under right eye, scratches on nose, left eye and corner of lip |
| Bleeding | Skin was broken and bled |
| Staff awareness | Employees “were unaware of how the injuries occurred” |
| Second lapse | A 4-year-old was left unsupervised for about five minutes at 12:05 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2025 |
The report concludes the center “did not meet the criteria for supervision.”
Facility responds
A Sunshine House spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles the company takes “all matters involving child safety seriously.”
The statement continued: “We are aware of an interaction between two three-year-old children involving a dispute over a toy. It occurred during supervised free playtime in a preschool classroom. We are unable to provide further details at this time.”
The Stockbridge location advertises:
- 50 years in operation
- Classroom cameras
- Photo and video app updates for parents
Culpepper alleges school officials resisted showing surveillance footage, forcing him to escalate the matter to corporate and state authorities.
Police have no record
An official with the Stockbridge Police Department stated the department could find no record of a complaint filed in connection with the incident.
News Of Los Angeles has reached out to Culpepper multiple times without receiving a response.
Key takeaways
- State investigators confirmed inadequate supervision at Sunshine House Early Learning Center.
- A 3-year-old sustained multiple bite marks and facial scratches while under the facility’s care.
- The center cites privacy reasons for withholding additional details.
Parents reviewing day care options can reference Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning reports for verified supervision histories.
