Catherine Guziejka, Lindale, Texas daycare worker accused of physically abusing toddlers under her care, including kicking 6 toddlers over 134 times over the course of 3 months as authorities continue to review surveillance tapes.
A Texas daycare worker behind bars could see additional charges after surveillance video showed her allegedly assaulting up to six toddlers in her care over 100 times over the course of several months.
Catherine Guziejka, 44, is accused of physically abusing a number of children, including kicking no less than six two-year-old children more than 100 times between July and October after becomig employed by Punkin’ Doodles Day Care in Lindale, Texas, in September of last year.
‘Calculated and deliberate abuse’
The daycare worker was arrested on October 30 and charged with six counts of injury to a child with the intent to cause bodily harm, KLTV reported.
Investigators were first alerted to Guziejka’s alleged abuse by one of the victim’s parents.
The father was told about the abuse by another staffer, who had seen video of some of the alleged abuse. The horrified father then contacted the Smith County Sheriff’s Office who proceeded to review surveillance footage from the daycare.
Authorities claim Guziejka was caught on video surveillance kicking the six children on 134 separate occasions in what they described was ‘calculated and deliberate’ abuse.
In one reviewed video, Guziejka is alleged to have kicked a two year old boy in his lower back while he was laying on the floor, CBS19 reported.
In several instances, Guziejka allegedly forced children to stare at a wall instead of a television while aggressively holding their heads down during diaper changes.
Other toddlers were yanked from beds during naptime and dragged by their arms to a changing table.
Guziejka is also accused of punishing some of the toddlers by standing on their hands.
Texas daycare worker abuse of power, authority and trust
Smith County Sheriff, Larry Smith, described the abuse as ‘disturbing’ while stating that, none of the children suffered serious physical injuries.
‘We’re looking at minor to medium bruising, but that in no way diminishes the trauma these children endured,’ Smith told KLTV.
‘This individual betrayed the trust of families and inflicted pain on those who couldn’t defend themselves.’
The daycare woker was fired after the daycare’s owner learned of the abuse.
‘To think someone I hired and trusted could harm innocent children in this way is beyond comprehension,’ owner, Melanie Dawn Law said.
The daycare has since been sold to a new owner, who plans to rebrand the business.
Added the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, ‘we’re going forward and detectives are combing through hours of video to see if there’s any other forms of abuse that have not been reported.’
Guziejka faces potential additional charges amid an ongoing investigation.
