Mother Files Lawsuit Against Baltimore Schools After Son Wanders Off During Care

Belinda Curry, a Baltimore mother, has initiated a lawsuit against Baltimore City Schools following a distressing incident involving her six-year-old son, Liam. The child was discovered wandering alone along Reisterstown Road while he was supposed to be in after-school care at Fallstaff Elementary.

Nearly a year ago, Curry received a phone call from school staff informing her that they had located her son, who had managed to leave the school premises unnoticed during a transition period. Liam's escape led him to cross a busy street before he was found at a nearby Five Below store.

Curry expressed her outrage over the lack of proper supervision, stating, "They did not do their due diligence. They failed my child." She described the emotional toll the incident has taken on her, saying it left her with an "unthinkable sink in my heart."

According to Curry's attorney, Thiru Vignarajah, the school did not notify her of Liam's absence until hours after he had left the property. "She doesn't know that he is missing until after he's found. That is unacceptable," Vignarajah remarked.

Curry was under the impression that her son was safe and secure at school, believing he was engaged in his usual after-school activities. Following the incident, she opted to transfer Liam to a different school and noted that she has yet to receive an apology from the district.

Vignarajah highlighted that the lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the emotional distress and therapy Liam has required as a result of the trauma. He emphasized the importance of timely communication, stating, "When a six-year-old goes missing, every minute counts. The school's first call should have been to the mother, not to a lawyer or a PR person."

CBS News Baltimore has reached out to Baltimore City Public Schools for a response regarding the situation.

Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).