ST. LOUIS – A 4-year-old child reportedly walked out of his St. Peter’s daycare and showed up alone at a gas station a half mile away. 

Missouri childcare inspectors allege the child left Peanuts Gang Learning Center—with no parent or supervisor.

An inspection report says, “the facility did not know that child a was missing.”

It happened last October, but other parents are speaking out now because they claim the incident reveals a pattern of problems.

“My mom radar was just absolutely going off,” mother Kelsey Litrell told us.

Her husband, Steven Litrell, said they saw warning signs before that gas station incident involving another child.

“Observe your surroundings. See what’s going on and ask questions about it,” Steven said.

They switched daycares, right before a series of investigative findings by state childcare inspectors involving other children.

FOX 2 found five reports in the year 2024, which include that gas station incident. 

Another report found findings, including what state inspectors wrote, as a “17-month-old was bitten many times by the same child” with a teacher allegedly “…unable to articulate a plan that was currently in place to prevent (the child) from being bitten.”

The daycare remains licensed, which attorney Grant Boyd wants to know more about. 

“We’re abundantly curious what was being done between the state and that childcare center when these violations were occurring and being substantiated and why are we still in this position?” Boyd said.

When FOX 2 called asking for a comment, a man who said his name was Mike said that reporting on the state reports would be irresponsible. 

FOX 2 told him that inspectors wrote that they substantiated allegations. He asserted that they would shortly unsubstantiate the allegations. I asked for an interview about that and he hung up.

FOX 2 also checked with the MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which oversees the Office of Childhood. 

“I verified with our Office of Childhood and there are no discussions about changing the status from substantiated to unsubstantiated on any of these complaints,” a representative told FOX 2.

Kelsey Litrell added that it’s important for her and her husband to advocate for their child.

She and her husband encourage others to do their research. 

“It’s ok to question; it really is,” Steven said.

Those can check the inspection history of a childcare center and read complete inspection reports online here.