INDIANAPOLIS-- Prosecutors have criminally charged a former childcare worker with felony battery following an incident at the Weston School, located at 7050 Coffman Road in Indianapolis.
Alexis Ferrell, 36, is charged with Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury to a person under the age of 14.
She’s currently incarcerated in the Marion County Jail, and an initial hearing is scheduled for March 12.
According to court documents, IMPD’s Child Abuse Unit was called to the school to investigate an alleged child battery that was captured on video on December 23, 2025.
The video showed that the lights in the daycare room were turned off and children were sleeping on cots.
The victim, a 3-year-old girl, was seen climbing on a bookshelf and sitting on top of it, court documents allege.
The childcare worker, Ferrell, was observed standing in the room holding a cellphone.
Ferrell walked over to the victim and pulled the child from the bookshelf “in a forceful pulling motion,” court documents allege.
The child then fell “face first onto the floor and began to cry in pain,” read the court documents.
Prosecutors also allege Ferrell did not help the child afterwards and told her to lie down on the cot.
The video then showed Ferrell “forcefully” place the girl on the cot.
“It should be noted that there was a second daycare worker in the room just feet away from the incident,” read the probable cause affidavit. “In the video, the second worker does not get up to help or react to the incident.”
Following the incident, the child’s lips were swollen and bleeding, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The girl’s mother took her to a doctor who concluded the injuries were consistent with abuse, records allege.
When questioned by the school’s director, Ferrell said the girl “was not being good during nap time and had fallen from a bookshelf,” read the probable cause affidavit.
Ferrell was terminated from the Weston School, according to court documents.
She told police she had worked at various child care facilities for 17 years and had no intention of hurting the child.
WRTV Investigates is working to contact Ferrell for comment.
The Indiana Family Social Services Administration (FSSA), the state agency that licenses and inspects childcare facilities, cited the Weston School in Indianapolis on January 2.
“Staff member did not use positive discipline when took hold of child's right arm and pulled from top of bookshelf where child was sitting,” read the citation. “Child either hit something or the floor with face causing swelling and abrasions on her lips that was found by parent.”
State inspectors also noted a separate incident on January 28.
“Staff member engaged in inappropriate discipline while toileting a child,” read the citation.
You can look up childcare inspection reports here.
The Weston School released the following statement to WRTV Investigates:
The Weston School is aware of criminal charges filed against a former employee related to an incident that occurred in December 2025.
When the concern was brought to the school’s attention, leadership immediately reviewed classroom camera footage and placed the employee on leave pending investigation. Following that review, the employee was terminated.
The Weston School also self-reported the incident to the appropriate state authorities and the Department of Child Services in accordance with Indiana law and our responsibilities as mandated reporters. For nearly 40 years, The Weston School has upheld and maintained an honest and transparent relationship with state and local authorities.
Throughout the process, school leadership remained in communication with the child’s parent. The parent expressed appreciation for how quickly the situation was addressed and has continued their child’s enrollment at The Weston School.
The safety and well-being of the children in our care is our highest priority. The Weston School invests in comprehensive safety systems designed to ensure accountability and transparency in our classrooms. Uniquely, each classroom is equipped with multiple high-definition cameras that record both audio and video, and additional cameras are located throughout hallways, playground areas, and parking areas. The school also maintains secure controlled entry and requires extensive background checks, training, and certification for all employees. These safeguards allow leadership to quickly review concerns and take immediate action, which is exactly what occurred in this situation.
We appreciate the family’s continued trust by keeping their children enrolled at The Weston School.
