An Ohio daycare worker has agreed to a plea deal following allegations of severe abuse, including using “painter’s tape” to bind the eyes, feet, and hands of a 1-year-old girl. The worker, Katelyn Strohacker, 23, also reportedly inflicted trauma on other children, leading to “sleep issues” and “night terrors.”

Originally pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, Strohacker faced charges of child endangerment and kidnapping for incidents at Over the Rainbow Children’s Center in Pataskala. Recent online court filings indicate she has now decided to settle the case through a plea agreement.

A motion filed on February 20 states, “Strohacker, through her counsel, requests the court cancel the scheduled jury trial in favor of a change of plea and sentencing hearing.” It further explains that discussions between Strohacker and the state have led to a resolution via a plea.

The allegations against Strohacker involve the mistreatment of at least eight children. Court documents detail an incident where she allegedly used painter’s tape to restrain a young girl, described as an act of “corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measure” in a “cruel manner.” The girl’s mother reported the incident to authorities in August 2025 after being informed by the daycare’s director, Jamie Schoelkopf.

Prosecutors claim that Strohacker not only taped the child’s eyes, hands, and feet, leaving her face down under a blanket, but also repeated such acts on at least four occasions. During one incident on July 17, 2025, she reportedly taped the child’s hands behind her head and pressed her foot onto the child’s shoulder and neck area.

The court documents further describe how Strohacker “terrorized” the toddler while she was restrained, acting aggressively whenever the child attempted to move. This included forcibly yanking the child or behaving in a menacing way, according to the prosecutor’s account.

Strohacker allegedly targeted seven other children in the monthlong time frame that surveillance video was kept. One incident that involved a 2-year-old and was captured on video from July 11, 2025, showed Strohacker “purposely shut the victim’s finger in a cabinet door,” according to prosecutors.

“The defendant frequently shoved or yanked [the 2-year-old],” the filing adds.

An Oct. 31 bill of particulars says four of Strohacker’s victims were seen, evaluated, and treated by multidisciplinary teams at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “These children, who suffered serious physical harm as a result of the defendant’s abuse, have experienced sleep issues/night terrors, separation anxiety, and behavioral issues,” the filing alleges.

According to the mom of the 1-year-old, Strohacker “had bound and left [her daughter] in a bed for an hour” that day after wrapping her up with the painter’s tape.

“The defendant was subsequently interviewed and admitted to doing this and [to] doing this on more than one occasion,” the complaint says.

Strohacker was arrested and later released on a $50,000 surety bond. She was ordered to not have any unsupervised contact with minors.

The Over the Rainbow Children’s Center has not responded to Law&Crime’s requests for comment. It provided a statement to local CBS affiliate WBNS last year, saying safety was the “top priority,” per the outlet.

“We became aware of an incident with a former employee,” the day care said. “As a result of the incident, both the employee and supervisor have been terminated. We have been in contact with the family of the child involved and reported the incident to authorities.”

Strohacker is scheduled to appear in court to change her plea and be sentenced on April 7.