Inset: Karen Rezendes (Kingston Police). Background: “Oh Nana’s Daycare” in Kingston, Mass., where Rezendes is accused of assaulting several 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 town about 30 miles south of Boston, for several years. Police say their investigation found evidence that she allegedly abused several toddlers in recent years.
“This includes allegedly 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,” police said.
Her arrest followed a weeks-long investigation that included interviews with children and a review of video evidence that authorities say showed the alleged assaults.
Local CBS affiliate WBZ, citing an arrest affidavit, reported that Rezendes’ estranged husband sent videos allegedly showing the abuse — footage dating back at least two years — to numerous parents, the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care.
During forensic interviews, one young girl told investigators that Rezendes, whom children knew as “Nana,” threw her against a wall, leaving what the child described as a “big boo boo” on her head with “bad blood,” according to the report.
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Neighbors did not seem all that surprised.
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.
