Del. childcare employee charged with child abuse

HARTLY, Del. – A Kent County childcare employee has been arrested on numerous child abuse charges.

According to police, the investigation began on December 6th, when staff at Hartly Learning Academy contacted police to report possible physical abuse to a child by a former employee, identified as 24-year-old Kayla Manuszak. The months-long investigation led detectives to determine that between November 30th and December 4th, Manuszak physically abused a total of six infants under her care, ranging in age from 5 to 14 months. All of the children have been medically evaluated and received appropriate medical care.

A warrant was obtained for Manuszak on Thursday, at which time she reportedly turned herself in to Delaware State Police. She has been charged with 21 counts of third degree child abuse and 14 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and was held at the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $119,000 cash bond.