Kingston daycare owner faces abuse charges after court arraignment
Karen Rezendes, 51, owner of Oh Nana's Daycare in Kingston, Massachusetts, appeared in Plymouth District Court on Friday after turning herself in on charges of physically abusing several toddlers at her Cole Street in-home facility. She pleaded not guilty as investigators cited video evidence of assaults at one of the area's licensed home daycares.
Rezendes operated Oh Nana's Daycare out of her Kingston home until state regulators revoked its license last month. The case has drawn widespread attention in Massachusetts, raising urgent questions about oversight of small in-home daycares and what parents can do when abuse is suspected.
Key Takeaways
- Karen Rezendes, 51, pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple assault and battery charges tied to alleged abuse at Oh Nana's Daycare on Cole Street in Kingston.
- Police say video evidence shows Rezendes shoving children, striking them with kitchen items, slamming a child against a counter, and locking a toddler in an attic.
- Oh Nana's Daycare lost its license after investigations by Kingston police, the Plymouth County Children's Advocacy Center, and Massachusetts state agencies.
- Rezendes turned herself in Friday afternoon after police publicly sought her following an arrest warrant issued Thursday.
- Kingston police are urging parents whose children attended the daycare to contact detectives if they suspect abuse.
What happened at Oh Nana's Daycare in Kingston?
According to Kingston police and court records cited by multiple outlets, investigators began looking into potential abuse at Oh Nana's Daycare roughly three weeks ago after receiving reports of harm to children ages 1 to 5. Lt. Michael Skowyra said officers reviewed video, conducted witness interviews, and worked with the Children's Advocacy Center at the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.
Alleged incidents include violently shoving a child to the ground, striking another with kitchen accessories, slamming a child against a counter, and locking a toddler in an attic, police said. One child told investigators that Rezendes — known to attendees as "Nana Karen" — "hitted me and she threw me," leaving "bad blood" on her head, according to NBC Boston.
Rezendes told parents she was closing the daycare "until further notice" on July 4, citing "a personal matter," court records show. Allegations were brought to Kingston police the following day.
What charges does Karen Rezendes face?
Rezendes was arraigned Friday in Plymouth District Court, where she pleaded not guilty to all charges, WHDH reported. According to court records reviewed by The Boston Globe, she faces two felony counts of assault and battery on a child causing injury, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and seven misdemeanor counts of assault and battery.
She was ordered held on $7,500 cash bail and is due back in court Sept. 4. Her attorney declined to comment outside the courthouse, NBC Boston reported.
How did investigators build the case?
Police said Rezendes' husband, Christian Rezendes, sent a series of videos from inside the daycare to authorities and multiple parents. In one message cited in court records, he told a parent he was divorcing his wife and that the state had received multiple videos documenting the alleged abuse.
Officers searched Rezendes' home this week and said they found corroborating evidence. Police noted that Rezendes may have learned of the search through her home security system and had not returned home afterward, remaining at large until she surrendered Friday afternoon at Plymouth District Court.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care also investigated, leading Oh Nana's to lose its license. The facility is no longer operating, Kingston police confirmed.
What should parents of former daycare children do?
Kingston police are asking anyone who believes their child may have been harmed at Oh Nana's Daycare to contact the department. Detective Zachary Francis can be reached at ZFrancis@kpdmass.org or 781-585-0523, extension 6649.
Police specifically urged parents whose children made allegations they initially dismissed, or who came home with injuries attributed to innocent accidents witnessed only by Rezendes, to come forward. Cases like this underscore why scrutiny of licensed daycares remains essential; for more unusual cases, see our Bizarre World coverage.
For full details on the arraignment and charges, see reporting from The Boston Globe.