A daycare worker in Florida is facing child abuse charges after allegedly pouring hand sanitizer into the open wounds of an 11-year-old child with disabilities and smearing cake on their face during what authorities describe as a disturbing incident.
According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Kaitlyn Pitzer, 36, was charged with one count of child abuse after the reported assault at Tender Care PPEC, a prescribed pediatric extended care facility in Spring Hill, near Tampa.
Investigators say the child, who has complex medical conditions, was first taunted with a piece of cake before Pitzer smeared icing on their face. Surveillance video allegedly shows Pitzer and another employee trying to bandage the child’s forehead before Pitzer forcefully pushed on the child’s head, causing their body to snap backward.
“The push appeared violent and excessive,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The footage then reportedly shows Pitzer rubbing icing that had fallen to the floor on the child’s forehead and aggressively wiping their face with a wet paper towel, causing visible distress. The most disturbing moment, according to investigators, came when Pitzer dragged the child to a hand sanitizer dispenser and applied the liquid directly to open wounds on the child’s arms. The child can be seen fleeing in pain and distress.
The child’s parents told deputies they were deeply alarmed after viewing the footage and feared the force used on their child could have caused serious injury, especially given the child’s pre-existing medical conditions. They also said the wounds, which had been healing, began bleeding again after the incident.
Pitzer allegedly admitted to detectives that she was frustrated that day and knew the sanitizer would cause pain but “did not care at the time.” She also acknowledged smearing cake on the child’s face and said she thought it was “funny.”
Tender Care PPEC told investigators they had concerns about Pitzer’s behavior, and she was recently terminated.
Pitzer is facing one count of child abuse. The investigation remains ongoing.