Inset: Karen Rezendes (Kingston Police). Background: Oh Nana’s Daycare in Kingston, Massachusetts, where Rezendes is accused of assaulting multiple toddlers (Google Maps).
A Massachusetts daycare owner has been accused of abusing multiple toddlers over a period of years, with authorities alleging children were locked in an attic, struck with “kitchen accessories,” and thrown into walls and counters.
Karen Rezendes, 51, is facing numerous felony charges, including assault and battery on young children and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to the Kingston Police Department.
Rezendes operated Oh Nana’s Daycare in Kingston, a community about 30 miles south of Boston, for several years. Police say their investigation centers on allegations that she abused several toddlers in recent years.
According to police, the alleged abuse included “violently shoving a child to the ground, striking a child with kitchen accessories, slamming a child against a counter, locking a child in the attic, and additional abuse.”
The arrest comes after a several-week investigation that including interviews with children and reviewing video evidence that depicted the alleged assaults.
Local CBS affiliate WBZ, citing an arrest affidavit, said Rezendes’ estranged husband sent videos showing the abuse — dating back at least two years — to numerous parents, the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care.
In forensic interviews with the children, one girl said she told investigators that Rezendes, known as “Nana,” threw her against a wall, which gave her a “big boo boo” on her head with “bad blood.”
Neighbors did not seem all that surprised.
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One grew up with Rezendes’ kids and said the defendant abused them, too.
“Her behavior towards her kids when we were younger weren’t great,” Kylie MacInnis told WBZ. “There were things I witnessed on my own that were in my opinion abusive and unnecessary in terms of discipline. I’m kind of glad that at least at this point she’s being brought to justice for her behavior.”
Another neighbor said she’s been trying to alert state investigators for years.
“When I called the state, her words to me were, ‘the state needs daycare workers,'” one neighbor told local ABC affiliate WCVB. “Like, what is with these people that they think they can do this to children and that it’s okay? It’s not okay.”
Neighbors reportedly left a sign on her front yard that said “Karma: You reap what you sow.”
The state shut down the daycare and stripped Rezendes of her license.
Rezendes pleaded not guilty to the charges. She’s next set to appear in court on Sept. 4.
The post Daycare owner locked toddlers in attic, beat them with ‘kitchen accessories’ and threw others against walls leaving behind ‘big boo boo’ and ‘bad blood’: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.