Pataskala, OH – A 23-year-old woman is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly using painter’s tape to bind a 1-year-old girl at a day care facility in central Ohio.
Incident Involves Extreme Restraint of Toddler
Katelyn Strohacker, a former employee of Over the Rainbow Children’s Center in Pataskala, was arrested and charged with child endangerment following an incident that reportedly occurred on July 21. According to a criminal complaint filed in Licking County, Strohacker is accused of using painter’s tape to physically restrain a toddler in her care by binding the child’s eyes, hands, and feet.
The child was allegedly left face-down under a blanket and unattended for approximately an hour. The report states that her arms were taped behind her back and legs taped together, raising immediate concerns about safety and neglect.
Mother Informed Weeks After the Incident
The child’s mother contacted police on August 7 after receiving a call from the day care director, Jamie Schoelkopf, about the incident. According to the complaint, the mother was told that her daughter had been restrained and left alone, prompting her to alert law enforcement.
During the investigation, authorities learned that Strohacker had admitted to using the tape and confessed that she had done so on more than one occasion. The specific intent, as alleged in the complaint, was to “administer corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measure” and to restrain the toddler “in a cruel manner.”
Employee Arrested and Released on Bond
Strohacker was arrested and later released on a $50,000 surety bond. A judge has barred her from having unsupervised contact with minors, and she is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on August 28.
Day Care Responds with Terminations and Statement
The Over the Rainbow Children’s Center has not publicly commented in detail but issued a short statement to local station WBNS, stating:
“We became aware of an incident with a former employee. As a result, both the employee and supervisor have been terminated. We have been in contact with the family of the child involved and reported the incident to authorities. Safety is our top priority.”
Ongoing Investigation Raises Broader Questions
While the criminal case moves forward, concerns remain about how the incident went unnoticed for more than two weeks. It’s also unclear why the facility’s supervisor was terminated alongside Strohacker. This has prompted further scrutiny of oversight protocols and how such behavior could occur in a licensed child care setting.
The Licking County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet indicated whether additional charges or institutional penalties may be pursued.
What are your thoughts on this incident? Do you believe child care oversight should be stricter? Share your views in the comments below.
