Camp Field Trip Incident
Florida Mother Claims 4-Year-Old Son Left Behind At Chuck E. Cheese During Summer Camp Trip
A 4-year-old boy was left alone at a Chuck E. Cheese in Bradenton, Florida, after his summer camp group headed back without him, according to KLTV. His mother, Kasheena McKee-Kimbrough, says she only found out what happened when her son, Kireh, told her about it during a family dinner — the camp never called her.
McKee-Kimbrough has since pulled Kireh from the program and is now scrambling to find new childcare so she can keep working, WBTV reported. The Florida Department of Children and Families has opened an investigation into the incident.
How a 4-Year-Old Got Left Behind Alone
The incident happened about three weeks into the summer program, according to WNDU. Kireh's camp group visited Chuck E. Cheese for a field trip. When it was time to leave, staff loaded up and drove off — without him. No one at the camp noticed he was missing.
McKee-Kimbrough says her son was the one who broke the news to her. He told her what happened during a family dinner at home. The camp did not call, did not send a message, and did not alert her in any way, she said, according to Fox Carolina.
Mother Learns the News From Her Toddler, Not Staff
For McKee-Kimbrough, the silence from the camp was just as alarming as the incident itself. A 4-year-old should not be the one telling his mother he was left alone in a public place. She expected a phone call — or at minimum, an explanation — and got neither, according to KCTV5.
She has since withdrawn Kireh from the program entirely. She is now looking for new childcare options so she can continue going to work, Western Mass News reported. The sudden change has put real pressure on her family.
State Investigation Opens Into the Bradenton Camp
The Florida Department of Children and Families is now investigating the incident, according to Fox 5 Vegas. The agency oversees child care licensing in the state. If investigators find that the camp violated safety rules, the program could face fines or lose its license.
Florida law requires licensed child care programs to keep close count of children during outings. Staff are expected to use head counts before and after transport. It is not yet clear whether the camp followed those procedures on the day Kireh was left behind, according to WDTV.
Chuck E. Cheese's Role and What Happens Next
It is not clear how long Kireh was alone inside Chuck E. Cheese before anyone intervened. Chuck E. Cheese staff were present in the building during the field trip. No details have been released about how the child was ultimately reunited with his camp group or his mother, according to KOLO TV.
McKee-Kimbrough wants answers and wants other parents to know what happened. Her son is safe, but the situation has shaken her trust in the program. The DCF investigation is ongoing, and no charges or penalties have been announced yet, WISTV reported.
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