HOUSTON - The state is closing a Houston day care after an infant was abducted by an employee of the center earlier this month.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services delivered the closure notice to Mothercare Day Care on Monday. The closure is effective for 10 days while the department prepares to revoke the center's permit. The center operator can appeal the order.

The agency began an investigation after the April 11 abduction of an infant by a 21-year-old employee of the center. Hours later, police found the employee with the child at a Houston apartment complex. The employee has been charged in the abduction.

The agency said that the day care did not request a criminal background check or fingerprint check on the employee before allowing her unsupervised access to children.

DFPS says that the facility has been cited for 87 deficiencies from June 8, 2005, through the most recent inspection.

A message left after hours with the center was not immediately returned.