Church day care center responsible for boy left alone at Danville theater in July

By Denice Thibodeau
Danville Register & Bee
Published: September 4, 2008

Bibleway Church Day Care Center has been identified as the day care center responsible for leaving a 3-year-old boy behind at a Danville movie theater in July.

A representative of the Virginia Department of Social Services released the name of the day care center on Wednesday.

Marianne McGhee, director of public affairs for the Department of Social Services, said the inspections division handled the first part of the investigation. She said details of the investigation are still being kept confidential until the administrative side of the investigation is complete.

McGhee said “sanctions are likely” when the administrative phase of the investigation is completed.

“We can’t discuss it in more detail at this point,” she said. “Due diligence must be completed before we’re ready to discuss it in an official capacity.”

The boy was found alone at Danville Stadium Cinemas after a morning movie showing on July 15 that included groups of children from local day care centers, Danville police said.

Theater employees called Danville police at about 11 a.m. after discovering the boy had been left alone. Authorities then called Social Services, which took custody of the child.

The boy’s parents were reunited with their child later that day, police said.

Rose Cain, administrator of the day care center at Bibleway, and the Rev. Larry Campbell, co-assistant pastor of Bibleway Cathedral and a member of Danville City Council, both declined to comment on the situation Wednesday. Campbell said calls about the incident should be directed to the bishop of the church.

Bishop Lawrence Campbell, pastor of the church, did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comments.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.