The search continues on Monday for a missing Kankakee, Ill. baby that the parents say was abused by the childcare that was taking care of him.
According to Arthur Fletcher, the father of one-year-old Artistic Fletcher, who called a news station on Monday that when he picked up Artistic from the Jesus Lil Angel's childcare facility on Wednesday, he had marks on him.
Kirsten Fletcher, Artistic's mother took photos of Artistic which showed marks on his face and put them up on her Facebook page on Wednesday with an explanation that Artistic had been harmed by the childcare.
"Here's my sons face courtesy of Jesus' Lil'Angels home daycare," Kirsten posted.
Then while Artistic was being looked at by the hospital, Fletcher and the baby disappeared without any explanation.
The police have not been able to contact the family and currently have Artistic listed as missing and endangered.
According to DCFS they told the police that they were called to the home by the Fletcher family on Wednesday and when they arrived they saw bruises on the baby's lower back, upper thighs and upper arm area, according to the Kankakee police report, reports The Daily Journal.
Later that same Wednesday, the owner of the daycare called Kankakee police when they saw the photos of Artistic's bruises on Facebook. She told the police that Artistic arrived at the daycare that morning and he had a diaper rash but no other marks, reports The Daily Journal.
While the police were searching for the Fletcher family, a Facebook page called "Against Jesus Lil Angel's Home Daycare and their abuse" posted a type written post entitled "The Real Facts." It is unclear who wrote the post. It reads:
"Jesus' Lil' Angels group daycare home will hurt your children."
The post went on to claim that Artistic had black and blue hand prints across his whole butt, a diaper rash that caused his skin to peel and feces on his butt. They also claimed that on the 21st, Artistic came home with a black ear and black eye and "[they] said my 4 year old 'accidentally'got 2 rough with him but upon closer inspection 2nite noticed they were finger marks across his face. Adult size. I was just over there with the cops and my son is in the emergency room right now begin looked at."
Then on Monday, Fletcher contacted CBS-2 news and spoke with them. Fletcher said he notified DCFS when they saw the bruises on his son, and it was after DCFS said they were going to take all of his children into protective custody, he left the hospital taking Artistic with him.
“I only did what a parent does to protect their kid,” said Fletcher over the phone.
Fletcher went on to explain that Artistic is now with his mother and the Kankakee Police Department have been contacted.
"We've called the Kankakee Police Department and let them know my children are safe," Artie said during the phone interview with CBS-2 news.
The Kankakee police commander said that he had not heard from the family.
Many on Facebook have shown support for Artistic and his family on a Facebook page called Against Jesus Lil Angel's Home Daycare. The group joined together in honor of the Fletcher family and held a "Rally of Truth" in front of the daycare.
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