Leaving a child at daycare is supposed to bring peace of mind, not heartbreak. But for 1-year-old Clay, his very first day at Little Blessings Child Care in Bainbridge, Georgia, ended in tragedy.

When his father, Cory Weeks, picked him up, he was shocked to find his son’s face covered in bruises and cuts. Staff first claimed another child had hurt him with a toy, but surveillance footage later revealed something far worse: daycare worker Yvette Thurston, 54, was caught assaulting Clay.

Thurston has since been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child abuse and aggravated battery. She was released on bond but has been removed from her position at the daycare.

Weeks, a U.S. Marine, shared photos of his injured son on Facebook, calling it “every parent’s worst nightmare.” He urged other parents never to dismiss unexplained injuries and warned against being misled by staged “happy” photos from caregivers.

Clay was treated at the hospital and is now recovering, but his father says their family will keep fighting for justice: “We will make sure nothing is swept under the rug.”