Three daycare workers face charges for assault and child endangerment

According to police, three Plum, Pennsylvania, daycare workers are facing charges after repeated instances of abuse towards children at Genesis Childcare Center and failure to report such incidents. Photo via screen capture from WPXI-TV Pittsburgh

According to police, three Plum, Pennsylvania, daycare workers are facing charges after repeated instances of abuse towards children at Genesis Childcare Center and failure to report such incidents.

On Monday, police arrested Eileen Marie Andrews, 44, of Verona, and charged her with four counts of child endangerment and two counts of simple assault.

Terry Lynn Bachner, 43, of Murrsville and Angela Marie Russo, 49, of Plum, were arrested on Wednesday and each charged with two counts of endangerment and two counts of failing to report abuse.

The three women worked together at Genesis Childcare Center at Pittsburgh East Community Church, which closed in late April due to the allegations of abuse.

According to criminal complaints obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, police said that employees at the daycare observed Andrews pick a 3-year-old by his head and scream at him and yank on the hood of his snowsuit which caused the front zipper to cut his throat.  They also allegedly observed Andrews pick up a young girl by her arm and throw her in various incidents that occurred in late 2011 and early 2012.

Police say that Andrews allegedly held a child by his face with his body unsupported in the air and that one parent claims their daughter’s arm was dislocated three times in six months, reports WPXI-TV Pittsburgh.

According to the complaint, the other employees said they reported the incidents to Russo and Bachner, but Andrews remained an employee at the daycare.

In the complaint, one employee claimed that Russo even lied to the parents of the child who was cut when Andrews yanked on his snowsuit hood and told them it was an accident.

Employees say that the two supervisors, Russo and Bachner, told them to keep an eye on Andrews to make sure she was not being physically abusive.

In the complaint, one employee says that Russo fabricated reports to cover up the abuse.

According to a report by WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Plum Police Chief Frank Monaco said that the former employees of the day care witnessed intentional abuse to toddlers multiple times.

“One of the stories had to with a child being disciplined where a 3-year-old was lifted up by his head,” said Monaco in a report by WPXI. “I don’t think anyone would want someone lifting their 3-year-old by their head.”

Sources:  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, WPXI-TV Pittsburgh, Tribine-Review