FISHERS, Ind — A former Fishers day care employee accused of physically abusing children in her care in 2023 pleaded guilty to the charges on Thursday.
Molly Taxter pleaded guilty to eight counts of battery on children. As part of a plea agreement, 11 other counts were dismissed. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 6.
On March 16, 2023, officers began an investigation after a parent reported their child returned home from the Kiddie Academy Daycare, located at 11703 Olio Road. The parent claimed her child had a handprint bruise to her right leg.
The parent told police she contacted the day care, and they reviewed a video that allegedly showed an employee inappropriately touching the child.
According to court documents, the video showed Taxter shoving the child's head into a changing table, slamming her down and covering her face with a blanket.
The day care operator allegedly told police that Taxter saw them reviewing the video in the office and went back to her room. The court documents said the owner told detectives that Taxter told her "she may have done it." Taxter allegedly told the owner she was frustrated because the child cries a lot.
The court documents allege that when the owner asked Taxter about the video, Taxter said, "there is more of that."
The owner of the day care fired Taxter that same day, according to police.
Police reviewed surveillance video from the day care that allegedly shows Taxter throwing children down on the concrete during recess, pushing children to the ground in the day care room, dropping children in the changing room area, dragging, shoving, swinging, kicking, spanking, striking, slamming children down and grabbing children aggressively. Video also seems to show Taxter covering the children's heads with blankets when they aren't lying down or behaving during nap times.
Taxter was arrested April 25, 2023.