Daycare worker charged with first-degree child abuse and battery: ‘Every parent’s worst nightmare’

A daycare worker in Baltimore has been arrested and charged with first-degree child abuse and battery after authorities allege she violently mistreated a toddler in her care.

Police say 32-year-old Ashley Monroe was taken into custody on Friday following an investigation launched earlier this month when the child’s parents noticed unexplained bruises. According to charging documents, surveillance footage from the facility allegedly shows Monroe striking the child and using excessive force during routine activities.

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Harold Thompson during a press briefing. “Entrusting your child to a caregiver and discovering that trust has been shattered is devastating.”

The child, a 2-year-old boy, was treated for minor injuries and has since been released into the care of his family. Officials say he is expected to make a full physical recovery, though counseling services have been offered to the family.

The daycare center, Little Steps Academy, has been temporarily shut down pending a full review by state licensing authorities. Monroe, who had worked at the facility for three years, has been denied bail and is scheduled to appear in court later this week.

Parents of other children at the daycare have expressed shock and anger, with some demanding tougher oversight of childcare providers. “We trusted them with our babies,” one mother told reporters. “Now we’re questioning everything.”

If convicted, Monroe faces up to 40 years in prison on the abuse charges.