Inset: Suzanne Michelle Buhler (Placer County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Markham Ravine Park (Google Maps).
In a disturbing case from California, a 41-year-old nanny is facing serious accusations of child abuse after allegedly assaulting a toddler multiple times at a public park. Witnesses captured the incident on video, further intensifying the gravity of the charges.
Suzanne Michelle Buhler was apprehended and charged with child abuse by the Lincoln Police Department following the March 16 incident. The alleged victim, a 22-month-old girl, was under Buhler’s care at the time.
The Lincoln Police Department released a statement indicating that officers were dispatched to Markham Ravine Park after receiving a report of suspected child abuse. The caller, having witnessed the alleged abuse firsthand, provided video evidence of the attack.
Witnesses reportedly tracked Buhler to a nearby home, where law enforcement officers continued their investigation. With the information collected, Buhler was subsequently arrested. Authorities noted that the toddler displayed injuries that were consistent with the alleged assault and was treated medically before being safely returned to family custody.
Police officials stressed the importance of child protection and committed to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure those responsible for such crimes are held accountable.
Further information from Sacramento NBC affiliate KCRA reveals that Buhler was employed as a nanny by the child’s family through the Care.com platform. Her arrest has undoubtedly raised concerns about the vetting processes for child caregivers.
The parents said they trusted Buhler prior to the incident and described her as attentive in the months she worked with them.
“She was really developing our child in a very positive manner,” the victim’s father told the station.
According to the station, a landscaper at the park heard a child crying and observed what he believed was repeated physical abuse, prompting him to record part of the encounter and contact police. Concerned witnesses then followed Buhler back to the child’s home, where officers later informed the parents and showed them the video.
“It was a complete shock,” the father told KCRA after viewing the footage.
Reporting from The Sacramento Bee adds that the child’s mother said she initially viewed Buhler as a positive influence, even describing her as “Nanny McPhee,” noting her daughter had learned basic skills like counting and reciting the alphabet while in her care. However, she later began noticing behavioral changes, including increased aggression.
The mother told the newspaper that witnesses described seeing something “not normal” at the park and accused Buhler of physically harming the child after an apparent accident during potty training.
“My daughter pooped her pants,” the mother told the Sacramento Bee. “Sue [Buhler] was p—ed off that she pooped her pants.”
The father, who reviewed the recorded footage, said Buhler “raised her hand above her head and had significant force coming down on my baby’s sweet face.”
Investigators also said Buhler advertised child care services on multiple platforms and are urging anyone who may have used her services to come forward.
According to the Sacramento Bee, police are also re-examining a 2023 incident involving a child reportedly injured while in her care.
“This behavior is not acceptable in Lincoln,” police spokesperson Capt. Zach Eaton told KCRA, adding that detectives will pursue the case fully.
Buhler was released from jail the same day, records show. The investigation remains ongoing.
