An in-home daycare provider accused of physically abusing toddlers in her care has turned herself in and is expected to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court Friday afternoon, the Kingston Police Department said in a statement.
Karen Rezendes, 51, of Kingston, surrendered to the court Friday, Aug. 28, after police announced Thursday, Aug. 27, that they had obtained an arrest warrant charging her with various criminal offenses involving alleged assaults and batteries upon young children, the statement on Friday afternoon said.
According to police, Rezendes operated an in-home daycare in Kingston for several years known as "Oh Nana's Daycare," and was physically abusing, at least in recent years, multiple children attending the facility.
The alleged abuse includes violently shoving a child to the ground, striking a child with kitchen accessories, slamming a child against a counter and locking a child in the attic, among other allegations, according to police. The children were generally toddlers and ranged in age from about 1 to 4.
Court records show Rezendes is facing two counts of assault and battery on a child with injury, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and seven counts of assault and battery.
She is expected to be arraigned on the charges Friday in Plymouth District Court. A defense attorney has not yet been listed on her case docket.
Kingston police said their investigation lasted several weeks and included a forensic interview coordinated with the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office Children's Advocacy Center, along with interviews with witnesses, a review of video evidence that allegedly depicts the assaults and the execution of a search warrant at Rezendes's home earlier this week. According to police, evidence gathered during the search provided corroborating evidence for the allegations.
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Rezendes was not home when detectives searched the residence and did not return, police said. Investigators suspected she became aware of the investigation through her home security system.
Detectives made multiple attempts to locate Rezendes at her home and other locations associated with her, as well as by phone, and police said they informed her attorney about the warrant. Until her surrender Friday, she remained wanted by the department.
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The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care also conducted investigations. The daycare subsequently lost its license, police said.
Kingston police said the investigation remains ongoing and urged parents whose children attended the daycare to contact detectives if they have concerns about possible abuse and have not yet spoken with investigators.
Police specifically asked parents to come forward if their children made allegations they initially believed were unlikely or if children returned home with injuries that were attributed to innocent causes but were allegedly witnessed only by Rezendes.
Investigators said they have been able to corroborate victim statements through other evidence and expect they may be able to do so for additional children who come forward.
The Kingston Police Department is urging parents whose children attended the daycare to contact the assigned investigator, Detective Zachary Francis, at [email protected] or 781-585-0523 ext. 6649.
Reporter Amelia Stern can be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @ameliarstern1.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Kingston daycare provider accused of abusing toddlers turns herself in