MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes Detective Coats arrested Laura Flores (DOB: 05/08/1994) on three counts of Child Abuse following an investigation into alleged abuse at a local daycare facility.
On Feb. 13, 2026, MCSO Deputy Hammons responded to Bright Beginnings Learning Center, located at 14950 U.S. Highway 441 in Summerfield, to assist the Department of Children and Families (DCF) regarding a reported child injury. During the response, Deputy Hammons reviewed classroom surveillance footage, which showed Flores forcefully picking up a child and throwing the child onto a mat. Major Crimes detectives were notified and assumed the investigation.
As detectives continued reviewing the surveillance footage, they observed additional incidents involving two other children. The footage showed Flores striking one child on the back of the head and kicking another child, causing the child to fall face-first onto the floor. In separate incidents, Flores was observed striking a child in the abdomen, placing her foot on a child who was lying on the floor during nap time, and swaddling a child before slapping the child across the face.
Based on the investigation, Detective Coats arrested Flores and charged her with three counts of Child Abuse. She was transported to the Marion County Jail, where she is being held without bond.