‘The child could’ve died’: Chester daycare owner speaks after toddler wanders from facility

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Monique Ede, owner of Fortress of God Childcare in Chester has spoken exclusively with 8News after a child wandered off from her facility.

Monique Ede, tells 8News she opened Fortress of God Childcare in 2023 to help families in need. Her daycare facility located on West Hundred Road has been open for nearly a year after her church expanded their summer camp services to year-round care.

(Photo: Brad Vassar, 8News)

Ede says she doesn't charge parents more than $100 a week for childcare services.

"I didn't want a parent that had to go through what I went through as a single mom. I wanted them to know, 'Hey, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg for childcare,' but know that your child is still safe and [will] be taken care of," Ede said.

In recent weeks, her facility has been under investigation by Chesterfield police after a three-year-old wandered off from the facility and onto a busy road on Feb. 21, 2025. The incident sparked questions and concerns from the community.

During a one on one interview, 8News asked Ede about these concerns. She said, no one in the facility realized the toddler could open three doors. When asked if the child was supervised at the time, Ede said no.

“The child could’ve died. Who want a child to die? I didn’t get in the business for children to die," Ede said.

(Photo: Brad Vassar, 8News)

According to inspection records from the department of social services, a 17-year-old was alone watching four preschoolers before he left the student unsupervised for approximately six minutes. That's when the child wandered outside and into oncoming traffic before a driver saved them.

"If it was not for the hand of God to be on that child's life, if it was not for the angels to lift that child up and place that child over on the other side, this would be a different conversation. But God spared the child's life," Ede said.

This incident is not the first time Ede has been cited by inspectors. Since January of last year, she received more than a dozen violations ranging from unsafe or unclean conditions and no protective belts for students, to improper staff to student ratios and background checks.

Ede says the lack of training and support from state officials is to blame.

(Photo: Brad Vassar, 8News)

"I feel that I did not get the proper training and to say, 'Okay, this is a new provider. She's done a great thing. She's only charging people $100 a week. Surely we can help her out and provide her with the tools that she needs to be successful,'" said Ede.

Recently, the Virginia Department of Education sent a letter of intent to Ede to revoke her religious exempt license which she is currently operating under due to the series of violations.

“I'm keeping my doors open because they're going to want that. Help me get it. What's the Lord's,” Ede said.