FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Franklin County grand jury has indicted three daycare workers on 30 criminal counts involving the abuse and strangulation of multiple children in their care, according to court documents filed February 10.
The indictment revealed that 48-year-old Constance Perry of Lawrenceburg faces the most serious charges, including seven counts of first-degree strangulation and 13 counts of first-degree criminal abuse of children 12 and under.
In addition, 62-year-old Jenny Weeks of Frankfort, and 38-year-old Lauren Owens of Frankfort are charged with facilitating strangulation and failing to report child abuse, the indictment reported.
LEX 18 News found that Weeks was listed as the registered agent for Great Beginnings Child Care, LLC in Frankfort on the Secretary of State's website until Jan. 1.
The charges reportedly span incidents from June 2019 through January 2026, involving at least seven children identified by initials in the indictment. Perry is accused of strangling children by applying pressure to their throats or necks, or blocking their noses or mouths. All three defendants are charged with criminal abuse that allegedly caused serious physical injury or placed children in situations that could cause serious harm.
Weeks and Owens face additional charges for failing to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement or state authorities, despite having reasonable cause to believe children were being abused.
The indictment noted the alleged abuse occurred "in a continuing course of conduct, two or more times" within the specified time periods for each count.
Each defendant was assigned a $10,000 bail, and have now bonded out. Perry faces Class B and Class C felony charges, while Weeks and Owens face a combination of felony and misdemeanor charges.
LEX 18 News also discovered from the state's childcare provider database that Great Beginnings Child Care, LLC is listed as being "monitored by the Division of Regulated Child Care (DRCC) for regulatory compliance. DRCC has initiated action against the license/certificate (Denial, Suspension, Revocation)."
