Southwestern Adventist University placed professor Seth Day on leave as police investigate allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving a child.
KEENE, Texas — Southwestern Adventist University has placed psychology professor and Christian author Seth Day on administrative leave after his arrest in a child abuse investigation that also led to the arrest of his wife, author and speaker Heather Thompson Day.
The university’s response marks one of the first institutional consequences following the arrests of a couple with a public profile in Christian publishing and Seventh-day Adventist circles. Keene police arrested Seth Michael Day and Heather Marie Day, both 39, on Sept. 24 after a high school teacher reported concerns about visible injuries on their teenage daughter. Seth Day faces charges of injury to a child and sexual assault of a child. Heather Day faces a charge of injury to a child by omission. The accusations have not been proven in court.
Southwestern Adventist University said after Seth Day’s arrest that he had been placed on administrative leave and that the school was cooperating with law enforcement. The university said the allegations known to administrators did not involve students, employees or other faculty members. Seth Day is listed in the university’s academic catalog as an assistant professor of psychology who joined the faculty in 2026.
The arrests drew attention beyond Keene because of the couple’s work as Christian authors, educators and speakers. Heather Day, who writes professionally as Heather Thompson Day, has published multiple books, hosted Christian media programming and spoken to faith-based audiences. She and Seth Day co-authored “I’ll See You Tomorrow,” a relationship book centered on maintaining connections through conflict and difficulty. Both previously worked in higher education.
The criminal investigation, however, centers on allegations made by the couple’s daughter rather than their professional activities. According to an arrest affidavit, a teacher contacted authorities Sept. 24 after noticing injuries to the 14-year-old girl. She was interviewed at the Johnson County Children’s Advocacy Center and told investigators that Seth Day had repeatedly physically abused her.
The girl alleged that the most recent incident occurred Sept. 22, when Seth Day struck her with her cellphone, causing injuries to her face and chest, according to the affidavit. Investigators documented cuts and bruising. She told police that Heather Day was present in the home and did not intervene. Those allegations led police to arrest Seth Day on an injury-to-a-child charge and Heather Day on an injury-to-a-child-by-omission charge.
Investigators said the teenager also described earlier incidents and alleged that her mother knew about injuries but did not report their cause. The girl told police that Heather Day had previously taken her for medical care while telling health workers she did not know how the injuries occurred. She also alleged that her mother encouraged her to cover facial injuries with a mask. Heather Day has not been convicted of the allegations described in the affidavit.
The investigation widened after authorities received an allegation of sexual abuse involving Seth Day. The teenager made an additional report while receiving medical treatment, according to police accounts and court records. Detectives obtained a warrant to search the family’s home, and Seth Day was charged Sept. 25 with sexual assault of a child. Police have said they recovered evidence related to the investigation but have not publicly disclosed all of the material gathered.
The affidavit also refers to earlier involvement by Texas Child Protective Services. The girl told investigators about previous alleged incidents, including one in Midland before the family lived in Keene. Authorities said state records showed earlier reports, with the most recent CPS investigation cited in court documents dating to August 2026. Some previous reports were closed at the state level. A prior report or investigation does not establish criminal wrongdoing.
The Days’ visibility within Christian media has made the arrests notable in religious publishing circles. Heather Thompson Day has worked as an author, speaker, podcast host and former communication professor. Seth Day has held academic and ministry-related roles in addition to his current university appointment. Their professional backgrounds are separate from the evidence police must establish in the criminal cases.
Heather Day was released on a $100,000 bond after her arrest, according to reports citing jail records. Bond on Seth Day’s injury charge was also set at $100,000, with another $250,000 set for the sexual assault charge. Keene police say the investigation remains active, while Southwestern Adventist University has said Seth Day will remain on administrative leave as the matter proceeds.
Author note: Last updated October 1, 2026.