A Texas daycare worker was arrested on charges that she kicked and pushed at least six toddlers over a three-month period.
Catherine Guziejka, 44, was booked into the Smith County Jail on Oct. 30 on six counts of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily harm. She remains in custody, according to police local outlet CBS 19.
An employee at Punkin’ Doodles Day Care in Lindale, Texas, reportedly came across footage of some of the incidents. That employee then notified the victim’s father, who contacted investigators.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is still reviewing surveillance footage from the daycare, CBS 19 reported.
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Catherine Guziejka, 44, faces six counts of wounding a child with intent to cause bodily harm after allegedly kicking and pushing toddlers at the daycare where she worked. (Smith County Jail Records)
The sheriff’s office said Guziejka was seen in the footage kicking 134 different toddlers between July and October. In one incident, Guziejka allegedly kicked a 2-year-old boy in the lower back as he lay on the ground.
Many of the videos showed a child watching TV when Guziejka allegedly came from behind and kicked them in the back.
The kicking incidents were observed approximately 21 times and the children were all two years old.
Several videos emerged of her walking around while the children were napping and aggressively adjusting or moving them. Toddlers were also pulled from their beds during their nap and dragged by their arms to a changing table.
Catherine Guziejka, 44, was booked into the Smith County Jail on Oct. 30. (iStock)
In several videos, Guziejka allegedly aggressively placed children on the changing table, pushing their heads down and forcing them to face the wall as they tried to look toward the TV.
She is also accused of punishing some toddlers by standing on their hands.
A video showed Guziejka allegedly standing on a child’s left hand for seven seconds as the child tried to pull his hand away in pain.
Officers said the children were not disruptive in the videos before Guziejka appeared attack them. Officers also said she did not attempt to console or console the children.
GEORGIA DAYCARE WORKER ARRESTED AFTER CHILD ATTACKED ON VIDEO: POLICE
According to the sheriff’s office, Guziejka was allegedly caught on video kicking six toddlers 134 times between July and October. (iStock)
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The sheriff’s office said it was clear that Guziejka’s actions were random, intentional, unprovoked, violent in nature and solely with the intent to cause pain.
Guziejka, who first started working at the daycare in September 2023, was fired the day the daycare owner learned of the children’s abuse.
The owner said she immediately called police and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate Guziejka’s behavior. The agency determined that she could no longer work in a daycare center, hospital, nursing home or institution that cares for vulnerable people.
The daycare center has now been sold to a new owner.
