23-year-old woman who admitted to restraining 1-year-old girl under her care on more than one occasion with a tape as punishment, was released on bond
Ohio – In a shocking incident in Ohio, a 23-year-old woman, identified as Katelyn S., who admitted to repeatedly restraining a 1-year-old girl under her care with tape as punishment, has been released on bond as she awaits her preliminary hearing on child endangerment charges. The disturbing incident took place at a day care center, a facility now under investigation following the arrest and dismissal of both the accused employee and her supervisor.
Katelyn was charged after investigators uncovered that she used tape to physically restrain a toddler under her care in a manner described by authorities as cruel and dangerous. The criminal complaint paints a troubling picture of repeated abuse carried out under the guise of discipline. According to court documents, the incident occurred on July 21, 2025, though it wasn’t reported to police until August 7, when the child’s mother learned about what had happened from the daycare’s director. The director informed the parent that Katelyn had bound her daughter and left her in a bed for roughly an hour.
The investigation revealed that Katelyn allegedly applied tape across the child’s eyes, tied her hands behind her back, and secured her feet together—then placed the toddler face down under a blanket and left her unattended. These actions weren’t isolated. During a police interview, Katelyn admitted she had done this more than once. Court documents describe her using the tape as a form of punishment—employing it to “administer corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measure” and to “physically restrain the child in a cruel manner.”
Once the incident came to light, the day care center issued a statement saying safety is their “top priority.” In response to the findings, the daycare terminated both Katelyn and the supervisor who oversaw her. The facility also stated it contacted the child’s family and notified authorities as soon as they became aware of the situation. “We have been in contact with the family of the child involved and reported the incident to authorities,” the statement said. “We are and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.”
Despite the public statement and staffing changes, the incident has sparked outrage and concern among local families and community members. The fact that the child—a 1-year-old—was restrained with tape and left alone in such a vulnerable position has raised serious questions about how such behavior went undetected within a licensed childcare environment. Katelyn was arrested and has since been released on a $50,000 surety bond. As part of her bond conditions, she is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 28 at 3 p.m.
While no sentence has yet been handed down, prosecutors are expected to present additional details in the upcoming hearing. As of now, she faces a charge of child endangerment—a charge that could carry significant consequences depending on the outcome of the case. For the parents of the child, and for others who trusted the facility with their own, the emotional impact lingers. What happened inside that daycare has not only shaken a family, but ignited a wider discussion about accountability, oversight, and the basic expectation of safety when placing a child in someone else’s care.
