DCS report on Fireside Chapel investigation

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - We have an update on an investigation we broke in January.

Detectives continue to work the case surrounding child abuse allegations at Fireside Chapel Daycare.

The center has remained closed since the first of February. We have brand new developments you will only see here.

We got our hands on the reports from the Department of Child Services. They summarize their own assessment into what parents and daycare staff reported.

Many of the details line up with what we have reported, but some are fresh and come with a conclusion from DCS. “Unsubstantiated” is the State’s conclusion on the DCS Assessment of Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect.

It means after investigating the department does not have enough physical evidence to prove the allegations are fact. The report then noting DCS believes some reports of abuse based on victim and witness statements.

The report lists 10 parents, five children as victims, and two alleged perpetrators. One perpetrator being daycare director Kimber Auten.

Eight out of the 10 allegations reported to DCS accuse Auten of neglect and physical abuse, but DCS decided all are unsubstantiated.

In January, DCS received a report of this 4-year-old girl smacked across the face. Her accusations alerted us and led to a storm of parents who came forward with their own concerns.

Her father was one of many parents who reported to Evansville Police. We are told police expect to hand over the case to the Prosecutor’s Office any day now.

From there the state will review the file, determine if there is enough evidence to press charges, and if so what those charges would be. It is a story we are following closely.

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