A Missouri teenager faces a felony child endangerment charge following an incident at a Perry day care. The teen, 19-year-old Cherish Jade Maxwell-Riley, allegedly forcibly shook an infant less than a year old at an unnamed day care on July 15, 2025. The Perry Police Department responded to a call about an unresponsive child at the day care facility just before 10 a.m. Emergency responders airlifted the baby more than 100 miles to St. Louis for treatment of serious injuries, including a brain bleed. Now Maxwell-Riley sits in jail awaiting her fate.
According to a probable cause statement, Lt. Daniel Francisco from the Ralls County Sheriff’s Department interviewed Maxwell-Riley on July 16 regarding the incident the day before. The 19-year-old reportedly told police she was the “primary” in the infant room at the day care.
“Cherish stated that on the day CJG became unresponsive, she had been having him sit up on his own without any support. Cherish stated CJG fell back and struck its head on a soft mat on the floor,” the probable cause statement reads. “Cherish was asked what she thought could have caused the injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. Cherish stated, ‘l do not remember ever shaking the baby.’”
Later on during the interview, Maxwell-Riley reportedly admitted to picking up the baby and forcibly shaking him, causing his head to snap backward. Following the incident, the baby had a “dazed” look. The teen also told police she pushed the baby’s face hard against her collarbone and previously left red marks on his face, per the probable cause statement.
Maxwell-Riley ultimately admitted to using force with CJG and other children at the day care out of “frustration because the infants would not stop crying.”
Police arrested Maxwell-Riley, who faces a felony charge of endangering the welfare of a child and a felony charge of abuse or neglect of a child serious physical injury. She has pleaded not guilty. A judge set her bond at $100,000 cash only. She will appear in court on July 28 for a bond reduction hearing, court documents note. According to Missouri law, Maxwell-Riley could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
