By Victor Vybz | Gwinnett News Report
DULUTH, Ga. — A Duluth family says their lives have been turned upside down. Their young son was injured at daycare. This incident led to an investigation and allegations. The child’s father strongly denies these allegations.
Armand Leone and his wife, Rachel Leone, say their son, Joseph “Jojo” Melis, was injured earlier this month. He was attending Creekstone Academy, located at 2960 Albion Farm Rd. in Duluth. The situation later escalated into an investigation involving child welfare authorities.
Leone said he first noticed a visible scratch and bruising on his son on March 3. Leone informed daycare staff about the injury the next morning. He became increasingly concerned when the injury appeared worse later in the week.
“I have never harmed my child,” Leone said during an interview. “This situation has been incredibly painful for our family. We just want the truth about what happened to come out.”
The incident has led to an ongoing investigation. Leone is temporarily separated from his family while authorities review the case.
Rachel Leone said the situation has created significant emotional stress for the family.
“This has been devastating for us,” Rachel Leone said. “Our focus is on our son and making sure he is safe. We just want answers.”
Joseph is affectionately called “Jojo” by his family. He is an energetic young child. Joseph enjoys playing with toys and spending time with his parents.
The family’s concerns grew after a former employee of the daycare came forth with information. The individual requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation. She said she earlier worked at Creekstone Academy. She raised concerns about conditions inside the facility.
“There were things happening that didn’t feel right to me,” the former employee said. “I felt like some issues involving the children weren’t always being addressed properly.”
The former employee said she agreed to cooperate with the family after learning about the situation involving Jojo. Her statements have not been independently verified, and the daycare has not publicly responded to the claims.
Childcare providers in Georgia must follow specific safety and reporting guidelines when incidents involving children occur. According to the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, licensed childcare centers must document injuries. They must communicate with parents when incidents happen during care.
Investigations involving possible child injuries are typically handled by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Local law enforcement agencies also handle these cases. This approach has led Leons family.and the detective thinks he did.
Leone said the experience has been one of the most difficult periods of his life.
“I miss my son and my wife every day,” Leone said. “We are cooperating fully with the investigation and hope the facts will show what really happened.”
Rachel Leone said the family hopes the situation will encourage greater transparency and communication between childcare providers and parents.
“We just want to make sure our son is safe,” she said. “That’s what matters most to us.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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