North Carolina woman intentionally twisted 6-month-old baby's leg until it broke at daycare centre where she worked, say police
KNIGHTDALE, NORTH CAROLINA: A North Carolina woman has been accused of intentionally breaking the leg of an infant at the Knightdale daycare center where she worked.
Arrest warrants filed this past Monday, August 26, and obtained by WRAL state that Kimberly Sugg Boykin, 51, of Middlesex, "willfully twisted the femur" of a six-month-old child at Widewaters Learning Center and "neglected to report abuse after several opportunities to do so."
The alleged incident is said to have occurred on April 23 this year, according to the Raleigh and Wake County City-County Bureau of Identification, and came to light after the infant's mother noticed that her child was not acting normally after daycare.
A subsequent medical evaluation revealed that the child had suffered a fractured femur or thigh bone.
The day of the infant's injury also happened to coincide with an unannounced visit from officials with the state's Division of Child Development and Early Education, according to the News Observer.
A report from the visit said three and four-year-old children had been "placed in the bathroom to 'think' or to 'have a seat' and be spoken to.” It also stated that a staff member had threatened a child by brandishing a ruler and saying, "Do you want me to pop you out with a ruler?"
The incident did not appear to be an isolated one either, with officials having found several other violations at the daycare center over the course of several visits.
Records from the Division of Child Development and Early Education show that the center, which opened in June 2015 and cares for 187 children, had been visited by agency nine times since May 2017.
WRAL reported that agents found 13 violations on six of those visits and that state regulators took no action against the center.
Speaking about the charges brought against Boykin, a spokesperson for Widewaters said, "Widewaters Learning Center cares deeply about the safety of our children, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards for our employees. We are actively investigating this situation involving a former employee, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities."
Boykin was arrested on August 26 and has been charged with felony negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury in connection to her crimes.
She made her first appearance in court on Tuesday, August 27, at 9 am and requested for a court-appointed attorney. Her next court date has been scheduled for September 17.
She was released from Wake County jail after posting a $50,000 bail.