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4mo ago

Cape Cod Daycare Shuttered After Fugitive Child Rapist Found Residing There

The closure exposes regulatory gaps in Massachusetts’ daycare oversight as state officials push for stricter background checks and policy reforms.

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An empty classroom at the Discover Magical Moments childcare facility in Rochester, Minnesota, US, on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2022. A crucial source of emergency funding for US child-care providers is starting to run out, threatening to hit an already overstretched industry at one of its biggest pain points: trying to hold on to low-paid staff in a tight job market. Photographer: Simone Lueck/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Overview

  • Andre Tiago Lucas, a Brazilian fugitive convicted of raping a 13-year-old, was arrested by ICE in October 2024 after living at a licensed daycare in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
  • The daycare, operated by Franciele Nunes, was inspected five times by the state’s Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) without detecting Lucas’ presence.
  • EEC background checks do not account for foreign criminal histories or immigration status, highlighting critical regulatory blind spots.
  • The daycare’s license lapsed in March 2025, and it has since been permanently closed following public outcry over the case.
  • State lawmakers are now advocating for expanded background checks, including international criminal records and immigration status, to prevent similar incidents in the future.