text: The baby had pronounced bite marks over much of his body (Photo: KENS 5) 
   
   SAN ANTONIO -- State investigators have shut down a far northwest-side home day care operation after they said an infant there was bitten 27 times by another child. 
   
   Child Care Licensing ordered the homeowner to cease operations Monday after an investigation revealed she had been operating out of a home on Bentwood View without a license. Investigators found eight children in the home and determined it had been in operation for eight years. 
   
   The infant, who was rushed to a hospital Friday, had pronounced bite marks all over his body, including his eyes, cheeks, legs, stomach and back. The parents of the baby, who asked not to be identified, said the day care operator waited four hours to call them and did so only after the baby's injuries did not fade away. 
   
   The parents rushed the infant to a hospital Friday (Photo: KENS 5) 
   
   KENS 5 is not naming the operator because she has not been criminally charged. 
   
   A San Antonio Police Department spokesman confirmed Tuesday the case is under investigation by its sex crimes unit. The spokesman said it does not appear a sex crime took place; instead, the unit has taken on the case because it involves the possibility that a crime was committed against a child. 
   
   The home day care operator spoke with the I-Team Tuesday morning (Photo: Jason Eggleston) 
   
   The operator could face charges of child neglect or injury to a child by omission if SAPD determines something could have been done to prevent the baby's injuries. 
   
   "At that moment, no. Yesterday, I found out," the operator told the I-Team on Tuesday morning when asked if she knew she had to have a license to operate. She claims she called the baby's parents within a few minutes of finding the bite marks. 
   
   A neighbor living a few doors down told the I-Team he took his daughter to the home for a year and never had any issues. A second parent called the KENS 5 newsroom Tuesday afternoon and said she had taken her child to the home for several years and the incident was "being blown out of proportion." 
   
   CHECK THE BACKGROUND OF YOUR CHILD'S DAY CARE HERE 
   
   A Child Protective Services spokeswoman told the I-Team on Tuesday that the operator has expressed an interest in getting a license and reopening the operation. She would be required to complete several steps, including background checks and CPR training for all employees. 
   
   Investigators shut down the day care operation Monday (Photo: Jason Eggleston) 
   
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   Image 1 of 23 John and Jeanette Betancourt's 4-month-old son was allegedly bitten 27 times by another child at an unlicensed day care in San Antonio. John and Jeanette Betancourt's 4-month-old son was allegedly bitten 27 times by another child at an unlicensed day care in San Antonio. Photo: Courtesy, John And Jeanette Betancourt 
   
   Image 2 of 23 We talked with Rhian Allvin, executive director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, about how to identify a good child care center. Allvin also provides red flags to look for when choosing a day care. less We talked with Rhian Allvin, executive director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, about how to identify a good child care center. Allvin also provides red flags to look for when ... more Photo: Jo Unruh, Getty Images 
   
   Image 3 of 23 Ask the center about its rate of turnover, Allvin recommends. As with any low-paying job, turnover will be fairly common, but if caregivers are constantly leaving the center, it's a sign you might want to go somewhere else. less Ask the center about its rate of turnover, Allvin recommends. As with any low-paying job, turnover will be fairly common, but if caregivers are constantly leaving the center, it's a sign you might want to go ... more Photo: Ariel Skelley, Getty Images/Blend Images 
   
   Image 4 of 23 In infant classrooms, look for caregivers who exhibit a lot of eye contact with the babies. They should also act warm and friendly toward the children, Allvin said. In infant classrooms, look for caregivers who exhibit a lot of eye contact with the babies. They should also act warm and friendly toward the children, Allvin said. Photo: Factoria Singular, Getty Images 
   
   Image 5 of 23 Children should be engaged in age-appropriate educational activities. Children should be engaged in age-appropriate educational activities. Photo: Christopher Futcher, Getty Images 
   
   Image 6 of 23 Evaluate whether caregivers are interested in the children or whether they appear bored or frustrated by their duties. Evaluate whether caregivers are interested in the children or whether they appear bored or frustrated by their duties. Photo: Zero Creatives, Getty Images/Cultura RF 
   
   Image 7 of 23 Children should participate in group activities, especially problem solving, Allvin said. If you visit a center during the day and the kids are watching television, that's not a good sign. Children should participate in group activities, especially problem solving, Allvin said. If you visit a center during the day and the kids are watching television, that's not a good sign. Photo: Westend61, Getty Images/Westend61 
   
   Image 8 of 23 Pay attention to how many children are in the room compared to the number of caregivers. The state assigns limits for each age group. For instance, there must be one caregiver in the room for every four infants aged 0 to 11 months. less Pay attention to how many children are in the room compared to the number of caregivers. The state assigns limits for each age group. For instance, there must be one caregiver in the room for every four infants ... more Photo: Westend61, Getty Images/Westend61 
   
   Image 9 of 23 The biggest red flag is a center that is not licensed or regulated, Allvin said. She recommends avoiding these types of centers. The biggest red flag is a center that is not licensed or regulated, Allvin said. She recommends avoiding these types of centers. Photo: Westend61, Getty Images/Westend61 
   
   Image 10 of 23 Allvin encourages parents to spend as much time as they want observing day care classrooms. "Many parents feel it is not their place," she said. "But it absolutely is their place." Allvin encourages parents to spend as much time as they want observing day care classrooms. "Many parents feel it is not their place," she said. "But it absolutely is their place." Photo: Westend61, Getty Images/Westend61 
   
   Image 12 of 23 Play equipment in disrepair, which could cause injury to a child. Standing water in playgrounds is another violation that is frequently cited by DFPS inspectors. Play equipment in disrepair, which could cause injury to a child. Standing water in playgrounds is another violation that is frequently cited by DFPS inspectors. Photo: Noah Clayton, Getty Images/Tetra Images RF 
   
   Image 13 of 23 Children left unsupervised in a classroom. Children left unsupervised in a classroom. Photo: Maskot, Getty Images/Maskot 
   
   Image 14 of 23 Several reports showed children escaping from the center when caregivers left them unsupervised. Several reports showed children escaping from the center when caregivers left them unsupervised. Photo: Maskot, Getty Images/Maskot 
   
   Image 15 of 23 The state does not allow child care centers to use candy or food as part of a reward/punishment system. The state does not allow child care centers to use candy or food as part of a reward/punishment system. Photo: Kim Gunkel, Getty Images 
   
   Image 16 of 23 Occasionally, a day care center will fail to report an injury or other incident to the parent in the state's allotted time frame. Occasionally, a day care center will fail to report an injury or other incident to the parent in the state's allotted time frame. Photo: Rich Legg, Getty Images 
   
   Image 17 of 23 Licensed centers are cited when inspectors find cleaning materials and other hazardous substances, such as medications, within reach of the children. Licensed centers are cited when inspectors find cleaning materials and other hazardous substances, such as medications, within reach of the children. Photo: Pauline Cutler, Getty Images 
   
   Image 18 of 23 Each infant should be assigned to his or her own crib and use that crib every day. Each infant should be assigned to his or her own crib and use that crib every day. Photo: RuslanDashinsky, Getty Images 
   
   Image 19 of 23 Older children might be transported by the center for field trips or other activities. State inspectors often cite centers that fail to use the proper child safety restraints. Older children might be transported by the center for field trips or other activities. State inspectors often cite centers that fail to use the proper child safety restraints. Photo: REB Images, Getty Images/Blend Images 
   
   Image 20 of 23 Look for toys in a classroom that could be a choking hazard or otherwise endanger a child. Look for toys in a classroom that could be a choking hazard or otherwise endanger a child. Photo: ÃÂ© Hans Barten, Getty Images/Flickr Open 
   
   Image 21 of 23 State inspectors prohibit caregivers from talking on the phone, texting or any other personal activity that takes their attention away from the children. Even a conversation between two adults can result in a citation if it distracts them from a playground or classroom. less State inspectors prohibit caregivers from talking on the phone, texting or any other personal activity that takes their attention away from the children. Even a conversation between two adults can result in a ... more Photo: Photosindia, Getty Images/photosindia 
   
   Image 22 of 23 Corporal punishment is not allowed in child care centers in the State of Texas. Corporal punishment is not allowed in child care centers in the State of Texas.
target: – When John and Jeanette Betancourt were alerted Friday that their 4-month-old son had been bitten at his San Antonio day care, Jeanette went to pick him up and noticed the day care operator was holding the infant close to her body. "She finally turns my son around and the first thing my wife notices is his legs," John Betancourt tells the Houston Chronicle, describing a horrific scene that involved not only bites on the baby's legs, but also on his eye area, cheeks, stomach, and back—27 bites in all by another child at the day care, KENS 5 reports. Now the state of Texas has shut down the in-home operation, which investigators say is unlicensed and has been in business for eight years, and the incident is being probed by the San Antonio PD to see if the operator could face charges. The woman, who was found with eight children in her charge Monday when investigators showed up, told Jeanette Betancourt that although she heard the baby crying, she didn't think anything was wrong, per the paper. On Tuesday, the day care operator told KENS 5 that she called the parents minutes after realizing the baby had been bitten and that she wasn't aware she needed a license, saying, "Yesterday I found out." But the Betancourts tell KENS 5 that the woman waited four hours to call them (and only after the baby's wounds didn't fade), and John Betancourt tells the Chronicle, "When we went to her house to do the initial interview ... she showed us that she had a license"; he adds he wishes they'd confirmed that. Other parents who've sent their children to the day care tell KENS 5 they never had any issues. The baby, meanwhile, is healing and "doing fine now," the dad tells the Chronicle.