Investigation into Leesburg child care facility continues based on new complaints

LEESBURG – The Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into a Leesburg child care facility is continuing after the agency received additional complaints following the Monday arrest of three individuals related to a September 2025 episode in which an infant was allegedly abused.

Officers arrested Sarah Katherine Luke, 35; Christie Lynn Hall, 52; and Nicholas Desmond Moore, 54.

Moore is the former owner of the Just Kiddin Daycare and Learning facility located on Cedric Street in Leesburg, where the alleged incident occurred. 

The business was sold to a new owner, who is not involved in the case that is under investigation, around Nov. 1, Lee Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eddie Burgess said.

The investigation stemming from the incident that occurred in late September was related to a child who was just under 1 year old, Burgess said.

“Our investigation was that she (Luke) handled the child aggressively, grabbing, jerking, basically kind of shaking the child,” he said. 

During the course of the investigation, the sheriff’s office acquired video evidence taken inside the business, the chief deputy said.

“I can assure you, if we can determine an (additional) incident has occurred, we’re going to charge it,” Burgess said. ”We’re investigating. We’re actually getting other complaints based on what we put out (Monday).

“We are doing follow-ups since we did receive additional complaints.”

Luke has been charged with cruelty to children. Hall, who was the day care supervisor, was charged with tampering with evidence and failure to report child abuse, and Moore was charged with failure to report child abuse.

Both Hall and Moore were mandatory reporters in their former roles and as such were required to report any suspected child abuse immediately under state law, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The people who own it now are not involved in this incident,” Burgess reiterated.