Texas – In a harrowing case in Texas, a 44-year-old woman, identified as C. Guziejka, has been charged with multiple counts of child abuse after security footage allegedly captured her abusing very young children under her care. Guziejka, a daycare worker, faces six counts of injury to a child with the intent to cause bodily injury.
The unsettling discoveries began when a fellow employee, conducting a routine review of the daycare’s security recordings, observed Guziejka engaging in shocking behavior towards a 2-year-old boy. According to reports, the footage showed Guziejka kicking the toddler in the lower back as he lay on the floor. This alarming incident, recorded on October 23, 2024, prompted the employee to alert the child’s father, who quickly involved the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.
Further investigation into the daycare’s video archives revealed a pattern of abuse that spanned several months, from July to October 2024. Authorities counted an appalling 134 instances where Guziejka physically assaulted six different 2-year-olds. Reportedly, she would approach the children from behind and kick them in their lower backs. The footage detailed repeated aggressive acts: from kicking children while they were watching television to standing on their hands and even dragging a sleeping child across the room to change them. The abusive actions extended to forcing children’s heads down to prevent them from watching TV, showcasing a disturbing disregard for their wellbeing and autonomy.
The scope of the abuse prompted immediate action. Guziejka was dismissed from her position, and M. Law, the owner of the facility at the time, turned over all relevant footage to law enforcement before deciding to sell the daycare. The establishment is set to reopen under new ownership and a new name in December, hopefully marking a fresh start devoid of past horrors.
Sheriff L. Smith provided insights into the ongoing investigation, highlighting the severity of the charges against Guziejka and the potential for uncovering more evidence. He expressed relief that the physical damage to the children did not extend beyond “minor to medium bruising,” though the psychological and emotional tolls are not to be underestimated. Currently, Guziejka is being held in jail with a bond set at $450,000. As the community reels from these revelations, the focus remains on providing support to the affected children and ensuring such breaches of trust and safety do not occur again.
This case strikes at the heart of parental fears and the critical importance of vigilance in settings meant to nurture and protect the most vulnerable. It also underscores the vital role that surveillance and accountability measures play in childcare environments. As this legal process unfolds, it will undoubtedly prompt discussions on how such devastating oversights can be prevented in the future and what systemic changes might be necessary to safeguard young children in similar settings nationwide. The charges laid against Guziejka will be tested in court, and as investigations continue, the community holds its breath, hoping for justice and stringent measures to prevent future incidents. For now, the families involved are left to process the trauma and work towards healing, fortified by the support of their community and the diligent efforts of local authorities.
