Disturbing Video of Violent Child Abuse Leads to the Arrest of Two Daycare Employees

The unimaginable happened when a Tampa, Florida resident noticed her one-year-old son experiencing serious pain in his leg. She cautiously took him to the hospital for an examination and was shocked to learn that her child was found with multiple fractures in his leg as a result of physical abuse. This revelation initiated an investigation by the Hillsborough Sheriff’s office that led to Time of Wonder Daycare surrendering their surveillance tapes.

The unsettling surveillance footage revealed 51-year-old Yamirka Menendez, a Tampa resident, raising the one-year-old several feet off of the ground by his wrist before intentionally dropping him on the ground with enough momentum to break his leg. Menendez is also caught on camera striking the one-year-old on the head and slapping him several times.

Menendez has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, child abuse, and battery. Another day care employee, Milagros Rodriguez, who was seen on camera only a few feet away from Menendez during the documented moments of extreme abuse has also been arrested for failure to report child abuse.

Parents entrust the safety of their children every day to daycare centers all across America. It is unacceptable for them to fear that those very centers are a threat to their children. What happened in Tampa should never happen anywhere and those responsible must be held accountable.