DCF: Woman ran illegal day care, tried to hide infant when investigators arrived

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Department of Children and Families said a woman was caring for 10 young children by herself in an illegal Orange County day care, and when investigators came knocking, she tried to hide an infant in a laundry basket.

A tip led investigators to the home of Veronica Suarez on Cypress Knee Circle off Curry Ford Road, where she was illegally caring for two infants, four 3-year-olds, two 4-year-olds, a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old.

DCF officials said she would only be arrested if she refused to stop operating the day care.

Suarez was allowed five days to shut down the facility.

In order to run a family day care from home, the owner would need a license or registration and the state would have to inspect the home.

But even if Suarez met those requirements, DCF said she was still caring for too many young children with not enough help to meet state guidelines.

Suarez said she claims she was just a baby sitter and has been watching other people’s children for at least two years.

DCF said they will check in Suarez next week and she could be fined for operating an unregulated day care.

WFTV