‘Doing what her boss told her’: Daycare worker let young child walk across 6 lanes of busy highway alone, then lied to cops about what happened, police say

A Florida daycare worker is facing serious criminal charges after police say a young child under her supervision wandered out of a daycare facility and ended up running across six lanes of a busy highway before being rescued by concerned motorists. Investigators later alleged that the worker provided false information about the incident and subsequently admitted she had lied because her supervisor instructed her to do so.

The alarming case unfolded in Lake County, Florida, where authorities say the child’s life was placed in immediate danger after the youngster managed to leave the daycare grounds and reach a heavily traveled roadway carrying high-speed traffic. The incident triggered a criminal investigation that resulted in the arrest of daycare employee Halee Russo.

Child Found Running Across Busy Highway

According to the Fruitland Park Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of U.S. Highway 27 and U.S. Highway 441 on June 12 after receiving reports of a child in the roadway. Investigators noted that the section of highway where the child was seen consists of six lanes of traffic and carries a posted speed limit of approximately 50 miles per hour.

Authorities said the call came after multiple drivers spotted the child running across the highway. The situation quickly became a matter of life and death as vehicles traveled through the area at high speeds.

Drivers Step In to Save the Child

One motorist told police he was driving north on U.S. 27/441 when he observed a small child running across the traffic lanes. Concerned for the youngster’s safety, he made a U-turn to assist. As he did so, he noticed that two other drivers had also stopped to help.

The witness later told investigators that someone successfully secured the child and returned the youngster to a nearby daycare facility. The coordinated efforts of several Good Samaritans likely prevented a tragic outcome.

Another woman who spoke with police said she encountered the child standing in the center median of the highway. According to investigators, another individual helped stop the child from running back into traffic while she took charge of returning the youngster to safety.

The woman told officers that she recognized a daycare facility located nearby and decided to bring the child there. During the interaction, the child reportedly confirmed that the daycare was where they had come from.

Investigation Turns Toward Daycare Staff

After confirming the child had come from the daycare, police launched an investigation to determine how the youngster was able to leave the facility unnoticed and who had been responsible for supervising the child at the time.

Their investigation eventually focused on 27-year-old daycare worker Halee Russo, who had reportedly been employed at the facility since November 2024. Officers interviewed Russo regarding the circumstances surrounding the child’s escape from the daycare grounds.

Initial Version of Events

According to an arrest affidavit, Russo initially told police that she had been attempting to take a group of children outside to play when two children became reluctant to go outdoors. While assisting those children, she claimed she saw a gate swing open and a child run through it.

Russo allegedly told investigators that she briefly left the remaining children unattended to pursue the child who had escaped through the gate. She estimated that only about five seconds had elapsed.

She further claimed that when she exited through the gate, she saw a woman stop the child near the daycare’s front entrance. According to police documents, Russo had previously stated that a child pushed open the gate, ran through a breezeway, and was intercepted near the front door by a parent.

Police Discover Contradictions

As investigators continued interviewing witnesses and comparing statements, they identified inconsistencies between Russo’s account and other evidence collected during the investigation.

Police questioned Russo about conflicting information concerning how far the child had actually traveled and whether the youngster had ever reached the roadway. The discrepancies prompted further scrutiny of her statements.

Worker Claims Supervisor Told Her to Lie

According to the arrest affidavit, Russo became emotional during questioning and eventually changed her story. Police said she admitted she had not been truthful in her earlier statements.

Investigators reported that Russo told them she was “just doing what her boss told her.” She allegedly claimed that after learning the child had gotten outside the gate, she informed her supervisor about the incident. According to Russo, her boss instructed her to lie to investigators because they feared the daycare could be shut down.

Police later spoke with a woman managing the daycare facility. According to authorities, the manager stated she was unaware of any incident involving a child leaving the daycare. At the time of the report, no administrators or supervisors had been charged.

Revised Account Raises More Concerns

After changing her statement, Russo allegedly provided investigators with a different timeline of events. According to the affidavit, she said the children had already been outside for several minutes and that she had last seen the child preparing to use a slide on the playground.

She then reportedly turned her attention to another child who was upset. Approximately two minutes later, she was informed that the missing child had left the playground area and made it beyond the gate.

Russo also told investigators she believed the child may have crawled underneath the gate because she had previously checked and found it locked.

Most significantly, police said Russo acknowledged that the child had been solely under her supervision and admitted she had not provided adequate oversight, placing the child’s safety and well-being at risk.

Felony Child Neglect Charge Filed

Based on the investigation, authorities arrested Russo and charged her with felony child neglect. Police alleged that her failure to properly supervise the child directly contributed to the dangerous situation that unfolded on the highway.

The child survived the ordeal without reported physical injuries, but investigators emphasized that the youngster faced an extreme risk of serious harm or death while crossing multiple lanes of high-speed traffic.

Parents and Child Welfare Officials Notified

Authorities contacted the child’s parents and informed them about the incident and subsequent investigation. Police also notified the Florida Department of Children and Families, which initiated its own review of the circumstances surrounding the child’s escape from the daycare.

Officials did not publicly release the child’s exact age, and portions of the report containing identifying information were redacted.

Ongoing Investigation

As of the latest reports, investigators continue examining the actions of daycare staff and administrators to determine whether additional violations occurred and whether other individuals may bear responsibility for what happened.

No additional employees had been charged at the time of reporting, but authorities indicated that the investigation remained active. Police continue to review witness statements, facility procedures, and supervision practices to determine whether further enforcement action is warranted.

The case has drawn significant attention because of the extraordinary danger posed to the child, who was able to leave the daycare grounds, reach a six-lane highway, and run through traffic before being rescued by passing motorists. Investigators say the incident serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility daycare providers have to maintain constant supervision and ensure children remain safe while in their care.