Florida day care worker accused of abusing 6 babies
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OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida day care worker was arrested Monday after detectives said she abused six babies at the facility.

Ocala police officers said they were called to the All Star Learning Academy on Silver Springs Boulevard on Monday after child abuse allegations were made against 33-year-old Karla Penalverty-Gonzalez.

Detectives said they uncovered several incidents spanning from March to July involving the alleged mistreatment of six infants between the ages of 4 and 9 months old.

According to an arrest affidavit, a video showed Penalverty-Gonzalez “violently” bouncing a baby in a bouncer.

“This action was violent enough it could have caused severe injury or death by shaking baby syndrome,” the report said.

In another incident, the affidavit said Penalverty-Gonzalez was sitting in a rocking chair when a child came up to her to be picked up. Penalverty-Gonzalez allegedly told the child to “leave her alone and shoved her off of her, onto the floor.”

Another worker checked on the child to make sure she was OK, the report said. The worker told officers that she reported the incident to management, but “did not see anything come of her report.”

Investigators said Penalverty-Gonzalez was involved in several other instances of physical harm, including rough handling, forced feeding, violent shaking and near suffocation.

According to police, the incidents were reported to supervisors, “but no appropriate action was taken to address the allegations in a timely manner.”

(Ocala Police Department)

Penalverty-Gonzalez was taken into custody and charged with eight counts of child abuse and resisting arrest, according to court records.

Officers said Penalverty-Gonzalez had worked at the day care since July 2024.

The Department of Children and Families was contacted and will require remedial training for the daycare’s staff, police said.

Investigators said they believe there could be more victims and asked the public to come forward if they had witnessed any related incidents.

“These babies are too young to speak for themselves, and your voice is essential in protecting them,” police said in a Facebook post.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call detectives at 352-369-7000.

“Our hearts go out to these little babies and their families as we continue investigating to ensure justice and accountability,” the police department said.

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