New York – In a shocking incident in New York, a 24-year-old woman, identified as L. Jackson, assigned by Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is being actively sought by authorities after a hidden camera captured her violently beating three young siblings entrusted to her care.
Jackson, who had worked for over a year as a nanny for a struggling single mother, is accused of repeatedly hitting a 2-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a 6-year-old with a belt while wearing a Santa Claus costume and Halloween mask to scare them. Authorities say the abuse occurred inside the family’s apartment while the mother, identified as G. Jaramillo, was at work.
The horror came to light when the children’s grandmother reviewed footage from a bedroom surveillance camera. The video, recorded on May 6, showed Jackson viciously whipping the children nearly 60 times while berating them for not cleaning their room. In the video, Jackson is seen pulling a thick brown belt from a bag and telling the children, “Guess what’s about to happen.” When one of the boys responds, “Belt?” Jackson replies, “You’re right — I warned y’all,” before commanding, “Drop ’em.”
The footage, filed with the police department as part of a notice of claim from Jaramillo’s attorney, reveals two of the children — in only their underwear — screaming and attempting to shield themselves as Jackson strikes them while restraining their arms. According to Jaramillo, additional videos also show Jackson throwing the baby, hitting the children with clothes hangers, and using costumes to terrorize them.
Jaramillo, a domestic violence survivor, was referred to ACS by the district attorney’s office while pregnant with her third child. Through ACS and their contracted provider Selfhelp, Jackson was assigned to assist the family. Over time, she became what Jaramillo described as a “trusted family member” — often staying over, celebrating holidays, and even sleeping in their home to avoid her long commute. That trust shattered when the surveillance footage emerged. “I feel so betrayed,” Jaramillo told media. “She was around us every day, and I thought my kids were safe.”
Since the discovery, the children have become severely traumatized. Jaramillo says they now refuse to undress, won’t use the bathroom, and are afraid to leave their bedroom. “They’re so traumatized,” she said. “I don’t know where they’re learning these things — or if they’re repeating what was done to them.” Despite a report filed with both ACS and the police department, Jackson has not yet been arrested. Police attempted to apprehend her on Monday morning on charges of assault and child endangerment, but were unsuccessful. The child abuse squad is now actively pursuing her.
ACS confirmed that Jackson has been terminated from her position, stating they are “taking these despicable actions very seriously” and have begun a review of Selfhelp’s procedures. Selfhelp, which holds a $1.23 million contract with ACS, claimed it performs background checks and drug tests on all employees and is now cooperating fully with law enforcement. Adding to the public outrage, Jackson’s brother told a reporter outside their home, “Abuse my ass. That happens in black families all the time.” The remark has drawn fierce criticism, with advocates condemning any normalization of child abuse.
Now relying on her aunt for childcare, Jaramillo has vowed to hold Jackson and the agencies accountable. “I want justice for my kids,” she said. “I trusted this system. I let her into our lives. And now I need answers — and to get to the bottom of what really happened in my home.” As of now, Jackson remains at large, with authorities urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the police.
