ABC Action News reported that Yamirka Menendez, a Hillsborough County, Tampa, Florida, daycare worker, was arrested on September 28 for child abuse after reportedly beating and dropping a one-year-old.
The sheriff’s office said Menendez was arrested after police obtained surveillance videos of her abusing the child. Authorities reported that she was seen on September 8 at the Time of Wonder Academy snatching the baby out of the crib by swinging him by his wrists, swinging him in the air, and then dropping him on the floor.
After the hard fall, authorities said the baby suffered injuries to his left leg and could not place weight on the foot and leg.
Another video from that same day showed Menendez spanking the same child and hitting him on the head while he was in the swing.
Following that, police-reported that later that same day, Menendez was seen forcefully pulling and yanking a four-month-old’s leg while feeding the baby on her lap as she slapped the child’s leg repeatedly.
The one-year-old’s mother then took him to St. Joseph’s Hospital after noticing that he had suffered an injury to his foot. The baby was later reportedly diagnosed with a fracture in his tibia and fibula.
Medical staff at the University of South Florida’s Child Protection team examined the same child on September 23 and determined that the injuries were consistent with physical abuse signs.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare coming true,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “We drop our child off at daycare knowing first and foremost that our child’s going to be safe. This caretaker should never see the light of day — nonetheless, ever have a child in her life.”
Milagros Rodriguez, another daycare worker who witnessed Menendez abusing the children, is also facing a charge for failure to report child abuse.
Chronister added that Rodriguez is “equally as guilty.”
