At least some of the furious parents demanding refunds when a program for toddlers shut down have gotten their money back, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine has learned.

“I got my refund,” says Alexis Frank von Frankenstein, but her story like many others’ was a trial.

Style learned about the controversy in December and wrote about issues surrounding the founder of Toddlers of Lake County LLC, Tess Marcelino. She had been highlighted in the magazine’s 40 Under 40 feature in January 2024.

“I’m making sure everyone gets their money,” Tess said in December. She promised that all refunds would be provided by the end of January. She could not be reached for comment after repeated calls for this article. Several parents also have not been able to reach her.

The parents, including Alexis, joined a public Facebook group with more than 240 members called “Exposing TLC Toddlers of Lake County.” There was at least one other private group with about 20 members.

Tess, whose legal name is Teraysha Marcelino, registered TLC Toddlers of Lake County with the state in 2022 but shut it down in September.

What followed was confusion, anger, questionable explanations and promises.

There was also an apology.

“I want to take a moment to personally apologize for the recent lack of communication and the cancellations …,” she wrote on the Facebook page.

The collapse of the company came with shocking news. Her husband, Jason Scott Marcilino, was arrested Sept. 29 on seven child sex abuse charges for incidents allegedly going back to 2017. None of the victims are customers’ children, according to court records. If anyone has any doubt, they should contact law enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office says.

Court records also show that Tess filed for divorce in April.

“Reading this Style article now is difficult, knowing how many families in our community paid for programs connected to this business and are still waiting for refunds months later,” Alexis wrote in December. “Classes were abruptly canceled, the organization dissolved, and one of the written refund deadlines of November 24th has already passed with no payment.

“Many of us trusted these programs for our children and truly believed in what they represented, which makes the current situation even more disheartening. Several families (myself included) have been gathering documentation, communication logs, and timelines because this has affected far more people than many realize.”

The refund for Alexis was $403, but others were due much more, she says.

Brianna Chavis says she is owed thousands, not for TLC but for a partnership with Tess in a themed kids’ birthday party business called In Character.

“I received $1,000 out of $5,200,” she says.

She says what she got was excuses instead of money.

Costumes weren’t ready, for example, and Tess supposedly canceled birthday cakes because they “were not up to her standards,” Brianna says.

“When it happened to my own son at his birthday party I said ‘I’m out of here.’”

There was no good explanation for where the money went, Brianna says. Tess told her some money was spent to obtain non-profit, charitable status.

Some moms say Tess misled them into thinking it was a charitable organization. Tess said she was in the process of trying to obtain that status.

Alexis said she was threatened with a cease-and-desist email from an attorney, citing cyber-stalking laws, but she said she has been unable to locate the attorney. Style also has not been able to contact her.

Brianna is trying to reach the lawyer to get a copy of the contract forming the costume company.

“I didn’t think too much about it at the time,” she says, but it could become important if she goes to court.

The method of repayment has also been an issue.

“So, I also haven’t received mine just yet but I did receive a response from Tess letting me know that she hit her Zelle limit for the day and would be in the position to Apple Pay me,” one mother noted on Facebook on Jan. 31.

The Zelle cash app limits the size of financial transactions depending upon the bank. Wells Fargo, for example, limits the amount to $3,500 daily and $20,000 monthly, according to the bank’s website.

Alexis credits the Facebook page and the December Style story for resulting in money being repaid.

One of the moms, Tammy Hand-McLain, agrees.

“I’d like to think that Tess would have done the right thing. I’m very thankful that so many got their refunds.”

Apparenty, however, not everything is settled.

On Feb. 6, Tammy posted a comment on the Facebook page asking if anyone was still owed a refund.

A woman named Rachel Durkin responded: “Looks like at least three people in the comments from the post four days ago still haven’t been paid. I’m aware of at least 2 others that are still waiting.”

One frustrated woman had responded: “No refund, no messages, no explanation! Running out of patience with the lack of communication!”

Amid the reactions of the initial story, there were also several local moms who said they had never had any issues with Tess and defended her as she was going through a difficult time.