WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Authorities say daycare worker had sexual relations with boy

Authorities say daycare worker had sexual relations with boy

A 26-year-old employee at a Trousdale County daycare is behind bars amid allegations she had an ongoing, sexual relationship with a young boy.

TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm confirmed to News 2 Wednesday the woman is an employee at Miss Susan's Learning Center in Hartsville and the boy is now 13.

He was 12-years-old when the alleged relationship began, she said.

The woman, Patty Gail Tomlinson, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery last week.

Authorities said they have enough evidence against Tomlinson to prove she was having a long sexual relationship with the juvenile.

The TBI said they do not believe the boy attended the daycare, but lives in Tomlinson's neighborhood.

None of the sexual encounters occurred at the childcare facility, authorities said.

The daycare is owned by Susan Russell, wife of Trousdale County Sheriff Roy Russell.

Both she and the sheriff were out of town Wednesday, and unavailable for comment.

The TBI said because of the connection between the sheriff and the daycare center, Tomlinson is behind bars in Macon County.

"In this instance, and other cases such as this, even thought the crime was committed in one county, we felt there might be some safety issues or conflict of interest and why she couldn't be booked into the jail so we transferred her to an adjoining county jail and they are happy to do that for us," said Helm.

Tomlinson reportedly had a background check prior to taking the job at Miss Susan's Learning Center, and there were no red flags.

The grand jury will take up her case in the coming weeks.