Additional Coverage:
- Daycare worker ‘smacks 5 toddlers with metal stapler’ then makes chilling remark after firing (irishstar.com)
A former daycare worker in West Melbourne, Florida, Latasha Mullings, 41, now faces 12 criminal charges after surveillance footage reportedly captured her physically abusing five toddlers in her care. According to Brevard County court records, Mullings is charged with 11 counts of battery and one count of assault.
The allegations came to light after the director of Mustard Seed Kids received a complaint from a parent who said Mullings had flicked their child in the face. Following this, director Kaitlin Fletcher reviewed a week’s worth of classroom surveillance from May 19 to May 26.
The video allegedly shows Mullings striking children aged 2 to 4 on 11 separate occasions with various objects, including a metal stapler. Additional footage reportedly reveals her flicking and pinching the children, grabbing them by their shirts, and even throwing a shoe at one child before yelling directly in their face.
Officials noted that the children displayed visible signs of pain following these incidents, which appeared to occur only when no other adults were present in the room. After confronting Mullings on May 26, the director terminated her employment.
Mullings reportedly responded to her firing by saying, “My babies are gonna miss me.” The incident was promptly reported to the Florida Department of Children and Families and local law enforcement.
Mustard Seed Kidz issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to child safety and detailing the immediate actions taken upon receiving the complaint. They confirmed the employee was removed from contact with children, and the case was reported to the proper authorities. The daycare also stated that it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation and reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a secure and nurturing environment for all children.
Under Florida law, the charges Mullings faces carry a combined maximum penalty of 11 years and 60 days in jail, though actual sentencing will depend on a points-based system that considers the totality of the offenses. No court date has been scheduled at this time.