Exactly one month ago, the Robertson family bid farewell to their beloved five-month-old son, Brayden, following a series of alleged incidents of physical abuse inflicted by an employee at his daycare in Alabama.
Versa Mae Simmons, a 68-year-old staff member at Tender Years Preschool & Nursery, stands accused of murder and four counts of child abuse in connection with Brayden’s passing. According to court documents obtained by WFSA 12, Simmons is alleged to have subjected Brayden to repeated abuse and mistreatment, ultimately resulting in his heartbreaking and premature demise on March 25th.
During a sit-down interview with WFSA 12, Taylor Robertson, her eyes brimming with tears, recounted receiving a call informing her that her son was unresponsive. She hurried to the daycare in a mere three minutes.
“I saw his motionless body on the changing table as they desperately tried to administer life-saving measures,” she shared with profound sorrow.
Versa Mae Simmons (seen in the photo) was employed at Tender Years Preschool & Nursery, which has since closed down. She faces allegations of murdering Brayden.
Brayden Robertson, who passed away on March 25th before even reaching the age of six months.
“No parents should endure the agony of witnessing their child being laid to rest due to someone else’s actions,” remarked Brayden’s mother, Taylor Robertson. Police allege that Simmons is that individual and assert that Brayden wasn’t her sole victim.
Taylor urges other parents of young children to remain vigilant for signs of abuse, emphasizing the importance of constant awareness. “He couldn’t tell me, ‘Momma, I don’t want to go here,'” Taylor lamented. “Every afternoon he would light up when we picked him up. I just thought my baby was excited to see me. But now it makes me wonder, was he excited because I was finally taking him away from something that he didn’t like?”
“Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, and from unexpected places. So, don’t be deceived,” Taylor cautioned.
Through tears, Taylor Robertson recalls the harrowing moment she hurried to her son’s daycare, only to find “his lifeless body on the changing table as they desperately tried to administer life-saving measures.”
Following Brayden Robertson’s (pictured) suspicious demise, an autopsy was conducted. When it was determined to be a homicide, Simmons was promptly arrested by law enforcement.
Brayden Robertson (pictured) is survived by his parents, Taylor and Paul, as well as his older sister.
Paul Robertson (pictured on the left) recounted how the daycare promptly informed him and Taylor that any scratches their son might have upon returning home were supposedly self-inflicted.
Taylor Robertson (pictured on the left) urged parents to remain vigilant and actively inquire when their child returns home with injuries.
Paul Robertson, Brayden’s father, revealed that the daycare was prompt to attribute any scratches their son came home with to self-infliction, raising doubts about the daycare’s accountability. WFSA 12 reported that the daycare’s license has been suspended.
“Ask all the questions,” emphasized Brayden’s mother.
“Ask for video footage. Ask. I wish I could go back and change a lot, but I can’t. Losing a child is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure, but losing a child that you shouldn’t have lost because they were perfect and they were perfectly healthy is something different,” Brayden’s mother expressed. “And I don’t want any other mom or daddy to feel like this.”
Brayden is survived by his parents and an older sister.
Simmons is currently detained at Marengo County Detention Center on a $1 billion bond. It remains unclear if she has entered a plea at this time.
