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Parents demand answers for alleged abuse at Blaine daycare
According to police, two employees at Small World Learning Center in Blaine were involved in “aggressively abusing children.”
BLAINE, Minn. — Christina and Cody Pech describe their 5-month-old son Cassian as a “happy boy” who loves to smile and play with his toys.
“It’s just been really cool to see and watch him grow,” Christina said, “into this whole little person.”
But when Cassian started daycare at Small World Learning Center in Blaine this spring, his parents said they grew extremely concerned about his welfare inside the facility.
“He started on the 13th of May, and by May 23, he had come home with a bruise,” Christina Pech said. “And none of our concerns seemed to be taken seriously.”
The Pech family has now identified Cassian as one of three infants harmed in a child abuse case under investigation by Blaine police. In a news release issued this weekend, the department announced the arrests of Small World Learning Center employees Elizabeth Wiemerslage and Chloe Johnson for “aggressively abusing children,” triggered first by a call from Children’s Minnesota last Tuesday.
According to a criminal complaint, surveillance video shows Wiemerslage and Johnson “violently” flipping, pulling and slamming infants. In one video, investigators wrote that Johnson is seen “holding a cloth over the infant’s mouth and nose for several seconds” while the baby cried. Citing medical reports, Blaine police said one infant suffered “sustained bruising in nine different areas.”
Christian Pech said her son had multiple bruises across his body and also broke one of his leg bones.
“Just disgusted that people could do this to children. Their innocence, I just… it’s just sick and twisted to me,” Christina said.
Cody Pech added: “We just really want answers for how this could go on for so long.”
It’s unclear if Wiemerslage or Johnson have retained attorneys. They initially told investigators that one of the child’s bruises could have been caused by the chair or swing inside the classroom, and at one point Johnson told officers that “she was helping the infants learn how to roll over.”
“But ultimately,” the complaint reads, “[Johnson] admitted she was too rough” and that her behavior might have caused bruising in one of the children. Also, investigators wrote that Wiemerslage “admitted to her behavior” and “that it was wrong.”
In a statement, Small World Learning Center management said “We as a company do not condone the acts of the two individuals involved in the incident.”
“The two teachers in question were terminated immediately and indefinitely. We are remaining open to continue supporting our families who rely on us for care and stability during this difficult time. We want to remind everyone that in the 24 years the Small World Learning Center organization has been open, that this is the first time something of this nature has happened,” management wrote in the statement. “We have a team of fully dedicated teachers who love what they do and are here for the safety and well being of the children in their care. We are cooperating with the Blaine Police Department and DHS to locate any weaknesses in our policies and procedures to ensure this does not happen again.”
Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany said Small World’s management has been fully cooperative with the investigation. However, although the criminal complaint focuses on three infants, Podany said more families have come forward with allegations since the announcement of the arrests.
“When we began reviewing video, it certainly became apparent right away that we had a problem here,” Podany said. “What’s particularly disturbing about this case is that you have two people that are present during this.”
On Monday, families told KARE 11 they met with Small World management at the Blaine facility to discuss the allegations.
Minnesota State Rep. Nolan West, who represents the area, attended the meeting. He said his own son previously attended Small World Learning Center in Blaine and that he, too, had come home with bruising before the family switched to a new daycare.
“The fact that this was clearly going on on a daily basis is insane,” West said. “You would never have guessed it. It’s terrible.”
Christina and Cody Pech said their son has returned to his “smiley” self, despite all the trauma he went through.
Still, Christina said she wants justice against the two employees.
“I want them to be punished for what they did to my son,” Pech said, “and for every other child that was in their care.”
“This Valentine’s Day, 2025, will mark the five-year anniversary of the premiere of ‘Love is Blind,” Vanessa said on the Season 7 finale. “And, it is gonna be the launch of Season 8, which takes place in Minneapolis.”
The episode also revealed three of the new cast members, one of whom, “Alex,” told Lachey Minneapolis is “not like a major city, but it’s also not a small town,” which he said is just one of the obstacles in his way of finding the one.
“I just never found the right person that clicked for me,” he said.
Meantime, you can bone up on Seasons 1-7 streaming now on Netflix.
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
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KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
