The mother of a 5-year-old boy who left a child care center Tuesday and walked more than half a mile to a Hooters restaurant says child care workers never looked for the child, even as the parents frantically searched for him.

“He was not watched, and they honestly have no idea how long he was gone,” said Amy Kernan, who has not returned to Imagination Station with her three children since the incident. “I don’t know what they’re telling other parents, but I want them to know they were not looking for him.”

Another mother, however, says the child care center is not fully to blame and she won’t be taking her 2-year-old son away.

Amy and Paul Smith have taken their 2-year-old son to Imagination Station for a year. Amy Smith said they believe it is an excellent facility with caring workers.

“That kid was 5 years old. He knew what he was doing when he left,” Smith said. “It was not all the day care’s fault. At 5 years old, you should be able to go to the bathroom by yourself and come back.”

Denton police are investigating a possible case of child endangerment by the facility. Detective Shane Kizer said Thursday that he has not been able to establish a timeline and child care workers cannot tell him exactly when the boy left.

“We’re still talking to people and trying to determine what happened,” he said.

The boy left the center in the 2300 block of San Jacinto Boulevard through an unlocked back door. It must remain unlocked according to fire laws but does not have an alarm that sounds when it is opened. Workers use the door to access a nearby playground.

The boy crossed Dallas Drive — a major entrance to the city off Interstate 35E — and walked to a convenience store. He came out with a soft drink and chewing gum, though his mother said he had no money.

Then he walked to the restaurant on the I-35E service road. Hooters employees found him in the parking lot about 5:20 p.m. and called 911.

Amy Kernan said she and her husband, John, arrived at the child care center about 4:50 p.m. to pick up their three children.

“We asked where he was and they said [he was] in the bathroom,” she said.

“They said he’d been in there a really long time. He wasn’t there. We looked for him. They were not helping look for him at all,” she said.

Paul Kernan decided to call for help from police. His call came in at 5:04 p.m., according to police records.

“They only got worried when they saw my husband open his phone and dial 911,” Kernan said.

“They said they’d better call the director.”

At 5:20 p.m., an employee of Hooters called to say the child had been found in the parking lot.

Imagination Station owner Deborah Pugh could not be reached for comment Thurs­day.

The Kernans have been taking turns taking days off from work until they can find another child care center, Amy Kernan said.

Amy Smith said she and her husband carefully checked out child care centers on the licensing agency Web site and spent hours at Imagination Station before entrusting their son to the caregivers. The price is fair and the workers are caring, she said.

“I really like that day care. I tried eight day cares within a year and didn’t like them for one reason or another,” she said. “He’s been there for the last year and it seems to me that it’s not about the amount of money they can make; it’s about the children.

“They really pay attention to your children. He loves it there and is excited about going every morning.”

Amy Kernan said her son was dehydrated afterward but otherwise fine.

“This could happen to another child,” she said.

“Luckily, I found my son, but somebody else might not be so lucky.”

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .