The mother who dropped her 2-year-old son into a cheetah exhibit at a Cleveland zoo is the assistant director of a childcare center, a spokeswoman for the preschool revealed on the same day the woman was charged with child endangerment.
Michelle Schwab was charged with misdemeanor child endangering Monday after allegedly dropping her son into the cheetah exhibit at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Saturday, according to court documents.
The toddler was hospitalized with a broken leg after the fall, according to court documents filed at the Cleveland Municipal Court. The documents said the boy's mother held him over the protective barrier of the cheetah enclosure before the fall.
Schwab is the assistant director at the Sawmill Road KinderCare in Columbus, spokeswoman Colleen Moran, told NBC News. Moran said in a statement that Schwab "is currently home with her family, and will remain out of our center while this issue is investigated and addressed."
"We are looking into the incident further ourselves, as we closely examine issues involving the treatment of children by our employees, even if those incidents arise outside of our centers," Moran said.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Executive Director Dr. Christopher Kuhar said in a statement Monday that the cheetah exhibit was open, but the viewing deck was closed as the investigation continued.
IN-DEPTH
— Elisha Fieldstadt