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The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) has suspended the license for Tender Years Preschool & Nursery in Demopolis following the death of an infant who was in their care.

Due to the suspension, the business will be forced to close effective immediately.

According to a post by Jean Hackney Gray within the daycare’s Facebook group, there is a letter on the door stating that DHR “has SUSPENDED (sic) the license issued to Tender Years located at 1001 Maria Avenue, Demopolis, AL 36732. This suspension is necessary due to imminent danger to the health and safety of the children. A copy of the suspension letter is posted at the center. If you have questions, please contact the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services Division at 1-866-528-1694. For assistance in finding child care, please contact Child Care Central-Tuscaloosa at 205-562-6022.”

The following was posted by Gray: “We are officially closed. I want to thank our parents and teachers for standing by us during this difficult time. I will be refunding any money paid for after this week.”

According to multiple social media posts, the sign is on the door as of this evening.

This all comes in the wake of an investigation that has resulted in the arrest of Versa Mae Simmons, 68, one of the facility’s workers. She has been charged with murder and also four counts of aggravated child abuse.

The Demopolis Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident and asks that anyone with information regarding these events contact the department.

Continue to follow www.demopolistimes.com and Wednesday’s edition of The Demopolis Times for more on this developing story.