Baby gets skull fracture when day care worker grew ‘frustrated,’ GA officials say

A former day care worker is going to prison after being accused of leaving a 6-month-old baby with a skull fracture, Georgia officials said.

In April 2024, Rachel Williams, while working at Steps to the Future Day Care and Learning Center in Statesboro, grew “frustrated” when a 6-month-old baby in her care couldn’t sit up by themselves, according to a Sept. 3 news release by the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Williams tried forcing the baby into a seated position and let them fall over, hitting their head on the floor multiple times, prosecutors said.

After getting angry, Williams slapped the baby in the face, arm and legs, before she “yanked” them off the floor by their wrist, officials said.

McClatchy News reached out to Steps to the Future Day Care and Learning Center for a statement Sept. 4 and was awaiting a response.

Williams pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated battery and cruelty to children, officials said.

She was sentenced to 20 years, with eight years to be served in prison and the other 12 years on probation, officials said.

She is also not allowed to work in the childcare field, prosecutors said.

Statesboro is about a 200-mile drive southeast from Atlanta.

This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Baby gets skull fracture when day care worker grew ‘frustrated,’ GA officials say."