Future Leaders Childcare Ministries in Gary, Indiana, Closes Following Teacher’s Child Neglect and Battery Charges

A daycare in Gary, Indiana, has been closed by state authorities following charges against a teacher for child neglect and battery involving a minor.

The video in this story is from a previous report

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning has acted promptly by ordering an emergency closure of the child care ministry. This immediate closure will remain until further notice, prioritizing the health and safety of every child. As the investigation by law enforcement proceeds, the focus remains on assisting families affected by the situation. Staff has been deployed on-site to help families find alternative childcare options and access essential resources during this challenging period.

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Authorities have announced that 31-year-old Laniecia Smith faces several felony charges related to child neglect and battery of a minor, linked to incidents that reportedly took place at Future Leaders Childcare Ministries located in the 1000-block of Roosevelt Avenue in Gary.

Police say Smith, on several occasions, was seen grabbing and hitting 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds while she was on video calls with an inmate at the Porter County Jail. Those communications last month were recorded and reviewed by jail officials.

In court papers, authorities say Smith was “repeatedly seen vaping within feet of the children” and “spending more time on video chats than actually instructing or supervising the children.”

In one call, Smith allegedly hit a child, who has autism, with a broom.

In other calls, she was seen allegedly grabbing a child by the ear and smacking another in the head.

And on multiple occasions, Smith was allegedly seen driving with several unrestrained children in the backseat while video chatting and texting.

In the recordings, authorities said, Smith repeatedly called the kids “ugly” and “stupid” during expletive-laden tirades. And in one call, an unknown male at the daycare was allegedly seen dragging a child by the ankle while Smith was heard laughing.