Kingston, Massachusetts, daycare owner accused of abusing kids: "It makes me sick to my stomach"
Kingston, Massachusetts, daycare owner Karen Rezendes was arraigned on Friday as she faces accusations of abusing kids.
The Kingston Police Department says it obtained an arrest warrant Thursday for the 51-year-old who has run "Oh Nana's Daycare" at her home for several years. She faces criminal charges of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon involving children who attended her daycare, according to police.
"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," Kingston police Lt. Michael Skowyra said in a statement.
The children ranged from ages 1 to 4 years old. The state is also investigating and her daycare is no longer licensed, police said.
Documents showed that one of the children told investigators that "she got a 'big boo boo' on her head and there was 'bad blood.'" Another child was asked, "Did Nana hit you?" and replied, "Yes, in the face."
Police said that after witnesses came forward, they obtained surveillance video that corroborated the accounts. According to court documents, it was Karen's husband who sent the videos in question to multiple parents, the Department of Children and Families, as well as the Department of Early Education and Care.
One neighbor who asked not to be identified said they have been aware of Rezendes' alleged behavior for decades and they have reported her to authorities.
"It makes me sick to my stomach," the neighbor said.
Kylie MacInnis lives in the neighborhood and grew up with Rezendes' children.
"I've lived here for 20 years. I think it's not shocking that she would do something like that. Obviously it's crazy that someone would treat a child in that manner," she said. "Her behavior towards her kids when we were younger weren't great. 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."
Rezendes was not home when detectives executed a search warrant at her house earlier in the week, but police believe she knew about the search via her home security system. She had not been home since then and did not return calls from police, Skowyra said.
Shortly after asking the public for help finding her, police said she turned herself in to Plymouth District Court, where she was arraigned and pleaded not guilty.
Neighbors left signs in the daycare's yard, including one that said "KARMA: You reap what you sow."
Police want to hear from any parents whose children attended this daycare and now suspect abuse.
"It's unfortunate too when you're talking about other individuals that have placed the car eof their children in this woman, they're paying for daycare services, they're expecting their children to be kept safe and of course that's not what happened in this case," Skowyra said.
