Tennessee Day Care Worker Sentenced to 20 Years After Repeatedly Slamming 13-Month-Old Girl Into Cot
DICKSON, TENNESSEE — A former day care employee has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after authorities say she repeatedly slammed a 13-month-old girl into a cot, causing serious injuries and sparking one of the region’s most disturbing child-abuse cases in recent years.
Sarah Jo Fuson, 24, was convicted of aggravated child abuse and child abuse after a jury found that she violently handled the toddler during a January 2023 incident at Tylertown Learning Center in Clarksville. The sentencing was delivered this week, bringing closure to a case that outraged parents and community members across Tennessee.
The Violent Incident Revealed Through Day Care Video
During the investigation, staff discovered video footage showing the toddler resisting nap time while Fuson forcefully shoved her onto a cot multiple times. On the final shove, the child’s head landed near the edge of the cot, after which she remained motionless until waking from her nap.
Medical examinations later found signs consistent with a concussion or a possible skull injury. The video surfaced only after the child returned home with bruises on her arms, prompting her parents to demand answers. Fuson was fired shortly afterward, and a criminal investigation began.
Judge Cites Defendant’s Own Words During Sentencing
During her sentencing hearing, the judge referenced Fuson’s own statements, noting that she repeatedly insisted, “I shouldn’t f—ing be here, I didn’t do anything.”
According to court testimony, she showed little remorse early in the case and even complained about jail conditions, including food and visitation restrictions.
The judge emphasized that the hearing was the first time she appeared to show meaningful regret for her actions.
Defense Claims Rejected as Jury Sides With the Child’s Family
Fuson’s defense argued that early descriptions exaggerated the extent of the toddler’s injuries and contended the girl did not suffer a skull fracture.
But jurors sided with prosecutors, who emphasized the violence captured on video and the physical harm that followed.
The child’s mother delivered an emotional statement in court, reminding the judge that the victim was a baby who had been “frightened, abused, and betrayed.”
Family Members Offer Support — and Condemnation
Fuson’s mother described her daughter as “kind and generous” and pleaded for leniency.
But the victim’s family insisted the trauma inflicted on their child would have long-lasting effects, both physically and emotionally.
The case had drawn widespread attention in Tennessee because Fuson is the daughter of Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson. Due to that connection, the trial was moved from Montgomery County to Dickson County to avoid conflict of interest concerns.
Fuson Apologizes but Faces Decades Behind Bars
In her statement to the court, Fuson apologized and said she did not realize how rough she had been with the toddler. She expressed regret for her actions and acknowledged the harm caused to the child and her family.
Despite the apology, she will serve 20 years without the possibility of parole, with an additional four-year sentence running concurrently.
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