A woman working at a nursery has been arrested for allegedly mistreating a disabled child under her care, as per a statement from the police. The accused, identified as Kaitlyn Pitzer, 36, was caught on camera applying hand sanitizer to wounds on the child’s arms and teasing the child by smearing icing on their face. Following the incident, she was terminated from her position at the daycare center.
Footage from surveillance cameras reportedly shows Pitzer and another assistant attempting to bandage the child’s forehead while the child was seated on the floor. When the child moved, Pitzer forcefully pushed the child’s forehead, causing a violent and excessive reaction, according to law enforcement.
Moments later, it is alleged that Pitzer teased the child with cake, prompting the child to reach for the treat and get icing on their finger. Subsequently, Pitzer is said to have grabbed the child’s finger and used it to spread icing on the child’s face, followed by aggressively applying more icing from the floor onto the child’s forehead, as per the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
During questioning by deputies, Pitzer reportedly described the icing incident as “funny in the moment.” Surveillance footage indicates Pitzer forcefully wiping the distressed child’s face with a paper towel to remove the icing.
The nursery worker then escorted the child to a hand sanitizer station, where she applied hand sanitizer to the child’s arm wounds, causing the child to move away in distress, according to authorities. The child’s parent, upon viewing the surveillance footage, expressed deep concern, stating that the force used by Pitzer could have resulted in serious harm due to the child’s pre-existing medical conditions.
The incident occurred at Tender Care PPEC in Spring Hill. Deputies revealed that the facility’s administration had suspicions about Pitzer mistreating a child during her employment, which led to her recent dismissal.
Pitzer has been charged with one count of child abuse and was taken into custody at her residence on October 9. Authorities reported that Pitzer admitted to feeling frustrated and acting inappropriately. She is currently being held at the Hernando County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond.