SPRING HILL, FL – A Hernando County daycare employee has been arrested after investigators say surveillance video captured her forcefully handling and taunting an 11-year-old child with disabilities inside a local care facility.
Deputies were called to Tender Care PPEC, a prescribed pediatric extended care center, around 3 p.m. Thursday following reports of possible child abuse by a recently terminated employee.
According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, administrators contacted law enforcement after reviewing video showing the employee, identified as 36-year-old Kaitlyn Pitzer, mistreating a child in her care.
The footage, investigators said, showed Pitzer using excessive force and acting in a manner that caused the child visible distress.
Incident captured on surveillance
The investigation revealed that Pitzer, assisted by another aide, was attempting to bandage the child’s forehead when she forcefully pushed the child backward. Minutes later, she allegedly taunted the child with cake, smeared icing on their face, and aggressively wiped it off with a paper towel.
The video also showed Pitzer applying hand sanitizer to open wounds on the child’s arms, causing the child to recoil in pain and flee across the classroom.
Detectives interviewed the child’s parent, who said the force used could have caused serious harm due to the child’s pre-existing medical conditions. The parent also reported that previously healing injuries began bleeding again after the incident.
Admission and arrest
When questioned at her Hernando County home, Pitzer admitted to her actions, telling detectives she was “frustrated” that day and knew applying sanitizer to open wounds would cause pain but “did not care.” She also said she thought smearing cake on the child’s face was “funny.”
Authorities determined the child to be a vulnerable victim with documented medical conditions, and that Pitzer’s actions violated lawful standards of care. She was arrested and charged with one count of child abuse.
Facility cooperation and ongoing support
Tender Care’s administration fully cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation, the sheriff’s office said. Pitzer was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center and released on a $5,000 bond.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-866-990-TIPS or through hernandocountycrimestoppers.com.
A disturbing case that turned a place of care into a scene of cruelty.
