College day care director suspended after student charged with rape
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Bridgewater State University officials and members of the Plymouth County District Attorney's office met with parents for more than two and a half hours Thursday night at the day care center on the Massachusetts campus, following multiple allegations of child abuse, reports CBS Boston.
The station reports that four additional such reports were filed with police Thursday, meaning there could be as many as four more victims.
University President Dana Mohler-Faria said the school has suspended Children's Center Program Director Judith Ritacco.
"There are many, many questions that I've asked and that I want answers to," says Mohler-Faria.
Mohler-Faria says suspect Kyle Loughlin, a student at Bridgewater, began working at the center last September as part of his early childhood education curriculum. Police arrested the 21-year-old Wednesday and charged him with raping two boys ages four and five.
According to the station, court documents show parents and teachers voiced their concerns to Ritacco weeks ago. Teachers said he was "very odd," "zeroed in" on particular children and that they had a "really weird feeling about Kyle."
Documents also show Ritacco told teachers to "keep this confidential" and said they were "going to handle everything with the University."
The center is licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care. Staff members are mandated reporters of child abuse.
"What I can't say is that the center protected all of our children. That's what I can't say," school president Mohler-Faria. said
Loughlin is being held without bail. He has a hearing Monday at Brockton District Court.