Florida Day Care Worker Charged After Abusing Disabled 11-Year-Old With Hand Sanitizer and Smearing Cake on Child’s Face, Deputies Say
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA — A 36-year-old Florida day care worker has been arrested for abusing an 11-year-old child with disabilities, allegedly smearing icing on the child’s face and rubbing hand sanitizer into open wounds while working at a medical day care facility north of Tampa.
According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Kaitlyn Pitzer is charged with one count of child abuse following an investigation into incidents that occurred on October 9 at Tender Care PPEC (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care) in Spring Hill, a facility that provides medical supervision for children with complex health conditions.
Surveillance Footage Captured Repeated Mistreatment
Deputies launched an investigation after administrators at Tender Care reported concerns that Pitzer, who had recently been fired, had mistreated a child in her care. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators allegedly showed multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse.
The video first captured Pitzer attempting to place a bandage on the child’s forehead, before forcefully pushing the child backward, causing their body to jerk violently.
A few minutes later, footage showed Pitzer taunting the child with a piece of cake. When the child reached out to take a small swipe of icing, Pitzer became visibly frustrated.
“She took the child’s finger and smeared the icing across the child’s face,” deputies wrote in the report. “She then picked icing up from the floor and rubbed it aggressively onto the child’s forehead.”
Pitzer then wet a paper towel and forcefully wiped the child’s face, causing visible distress before the child attempted to move away.
Abuse Escalated With Painful Hand Sanitizer Incident
Minutes later, the child was seen standing near a trash can that contained discarded cake. Investigators say Pitzer then grabbed the child and brought them to a wall-mounted sanitizer dispenser, where she applied sanitizer directly onto the child’s open wounds.
The child ran away crying and in pain, according to deputies.
When detectives spoke with the child’s parents, they expressed shock and concern after viewing the footage. The parent said the force used during the incident could have caused serious injury, given the child’s pre-existing medical conditions. They also reported that scabbed wounds reopened and began bleeding after Pitzer’s actions.
Pitzer Admitted to Abusive Behavior
When questioned by investigators, Pitzer allegedly admitted to smearing cake on the child’s face and using hand sanitizer on their injuries, saying she “knew it would cause pain but didn’t care at the time.”
She also reportedly told deputies she had been “frustrated that day” and that she thought it was funny in the moment.
“She stated that she knew applying hand sanitizer to the child’s open wounds would cause pain but did not care at the time,” the sheriff’s office said. “Pitzer further admitted to smearing cake on the child’s face and said she thought it was ‘funny.’”
Facility and Authorities Condemn Abuse
The Tender Care facility cooperated fully with law enforcement and confirmed that Pitzer had been terminated prior to the investigation’s conclusion. Officials emphasized that the safety and dignity of children under their care remain their top priority.
Detectives verified that the child has documented medical disabilities that made them particularly vulnerable to injury and distress.
Pitzer was taken into custody and booked into the Hernando County Detention Center, where she awaits further court proceedings.
For continued updates on Florida crime, child protection cases, and law enforcement investigations, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.