A Child Protective Services investigation into a Spanaway daycare has concluded after a local child was sexually assaulted.

Kids Space Learning and Daycare’s license was restored by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, & Families on Nov. 12 after it was suspended last August. The investigation found that allegations made by the parents of the 10-month-old against the daycare were unfounded.

On Aug. 2, daycare owner Tracy Barnes called the 10-month-old’s family to report an injury. After the family took the girl to the hospital, doctors determined she was sexually assaulted.

Besides the concluded investigation by CPS and the continuing investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff’s department (no one has been arrested and no charges have been filed), little has occurred in the last three months.

Barnes said she feels vindicated by CPS’ finding.

“They talked with each staff member individually… they looked through all my records. All my charting. All my files. All my diaper logs… you name it, they looked at it,” she said in a recent interview. “They found no evidence that [the child] could have been harmed in my daycare.”

It should be noted that while CPS found the allegations unfounded, that does not mean Barnes or Kids Space Learning and Daycare was cleared, just that “Based on the information available, it is more likely than not that the abuse or neglect did not occur, or that there was not enough evidence to determine whether the alleged child abuse did or did not occur,” according to a CPS investigation Q&A document.

Some family members disagree with CPS’ findings.

“… There was evidence from doctors that the incident did happen at the daycare,” mother Kylie Stoner said in recent interview.

According to what appears to be a medical document that outlined the child’s injuries and treatment plan (the entire document was unavailable at the time to be reviewed), “… the injury would have bled immediately, in an amount that would have been noticed by a caregiver,” the documents reads. “Therefore the injury likely occurred some time after the last normal diaper change and before the blood was noticed in the diaper.”

The documents detailed other injuries as well.

“[The child] also has multiple injuries… that are not injured in normal childhood accidents and falls,” it continues. “In the absence of a plausible history these injuries are highly concerning for physical abuse.”

In response to this incident, Barnes said she has installed security cameras, has hired more staff, and revised the daycare’s policies to better ensure children’s safety and better protect her workers.