A former day care employee in Connecticut, Kristie Kovarcik, has pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges after she was caught on surveillance footage throwing a 2-year-old child into a wall.
The incident, which occurred in October 2023, resulted in the child suffering a minor contusion on their head, and Kovarcik has now accepted legal responsibility for her actions.
The Incident and Arrest
Kovarcik, 48, was working at the Town & Country Early Learning Center in Middletown when the disturbing incident occurred. Police were first alerted in January 2024, after the child’s parents watched internal surveillance footage of the assault.
The footage showed Kovarcik grabbing the toddler by the shirt, picking the child up, and tossing them “through the air like a piece of luggage,” causing the child’s head to strike the wall. The child was left with a bruise above their right eye.
The facility immediately informed the parents and showed them the footage, which led to the parents reporting the incident to the police and demanding Kovarcik’s arrest. Kovarcik was arrested in February 2024, following a lengthy investigation.
Other Alleged Instances of Abuse
The investigation revealed that the incident with the toddler was not isolated. Surveillance footage from earlier in the year showed Kovarcik abusing other children at the day care. On January 8, 2023, she was seen lifting a young child out of a chair by their shirt and dropping the child to the ground.
Later, the same child was seen being kicked while on the ground. Kovarcik was also observed pushing another child forcefully during nap time.
On November 1, 2023, footage showed Kovarcik aggressively shoving a child out of her way. Despite initially denying any mistreatment and blaming her behavior on a “chaotic” day, Kovarcik later admitted to law enforcement that she “lost her cool.”
Day Care Facility’s Response
Upon discovering the abusive behavior through the surveillance footage, the day care facility immediately conducted an internal investigation and terminated Kovarcik.
A spokesperson for the facility stated that they have strict safety protocols in place and take any incident involving child safety with the utmost seriousness.
“We immediately initiated an internal investigation, notified the appropriate state authorities, and terminated the employee,” the spokesperson said. “The safety and protection of the children in our care is always our top priority.”
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Kovarcik pleaded guilty to one felony count of risk of injury to a child and three misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 25, 2024. Kovarcik was released on bond after the charges were filed in August 2024.
The case highlights the importance of proper monitoring and care in day care centers to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Kovarcik’s actions, now confirmed by surveillance footage, will result in significant legal consequences.
While the children involved in this case are safe, the emotional and psychological impact of such incidents on young children cannot be underestimated.
