Montrose daycare owner speaks out after allegations

After KJCT reported about an investigation into child abuse claims at a Montrose daycare, the owner of Little Tots is speaking out.

“It’s wrong, it’s lies: it’s not true,” says Warner.

Tess Warner is speaking about accusations from Kevin Gambill, who claims his daughter was left in a closet at Warner’s daycare around two years ago.

They’re similar to the claims made by a Montrose mom, Lora Hood, earlier this week. That case is currently under investigation by Montrose PD and CPS.

She says when the Gambill family was still using her daycare, she was operating her business out of another house. She now operates her daycare at a different home.

“There were no spare bedrooms, there were no empty bedrooms upstairs,” says Warner.

She tells KJCT 8 News she was advised by CPS, by Montrose PD and her boss to not speak on the current investigation brought forth by Hood. But she says Gambill is lying. She says the alleged incident with Gambill's daughter never occurred, and that she was never left in a closet.

“I’ve got records of their child being here. I’ve got photographs of their child being here,” says Warner.

Warner says she started school again and her new schedule was in direct conflict with what the Gambills needed for childcare.

“I just couldn’t pass up going to classes for my education. That’s the only reason that I quit watching her. That was the only reason. I told her, ‘if this isn’t going to work then you’ll probably have to find somebody else’ and she said OK. And I never saw them again,” says Warner.

Despite the most recent allegations, Warner says she doesn’t know why the Gambill family has filed these reports.

“I love this job. I’ve done it for 26 years. I mean this is my life, these kids,” says Warner.

After talking to Gambill, he says he stands by his story. KJCT will continue to provide updates as they develop.