FISHERS, Ind — A former Fishers day care employee, accused of physically abusing children in her care in 2023, will spend nine years in prison.
Molly Taxter pleaded guilty in May to eight counts of battery on children. As part of a plea agreement, 11 other counts were dismissed.
In addition to her prison term, she was sentenced to three years in community corrections and three years probation.
Taxter was emotional in court, crying and made a statement of remorse.
"I can't change what I've done, and I did really horrible things that others now have to live with because of something that I did. I have caused so much emotional pain as well, and I'm so very sorry," Taxter said. "It's shameful what I have done, and I truly can't imagine how scary it has been for the children and their families. Going forward with everything I know now and the horrible wrong I have caused, I promise to fix and prevent this from happening again. I will work on my mental health and not work with children again."
On March 16, 2023, officers began investigating after a parent reported their child returned home from the Kiddie Academy Daycare, located at 11703 Olio Road. The parent claimed her child had a handprint bruise to her right leg.
The parent told police she contacted the day care, and they reviewed a video that allegedly showed an employee inappropriately touching the child.
According to court documents, the video showed Taxter shoving the child's head into a changing table, slamming her down and covering her face with a blanket.
The day care operator allegedly told police that Taxter saw them reviewing the video in the office and went back to her room. The court documents said the owner told detectives that Taxter told her "she may have done it." Taxter allegedly told the owner she was frustrated because the child cries a lot.
The court documents allege that when the owner asked Taxter about the video, Taxter said, "there is more of that."
The owner of the day care fired Taxter that same day, according to police.
Police reviewed surveillance video from the day care that allegedly shows Taxter throwing children down on the concrete during recess, pushing children to the ground in the day care room, dropping children in the changing room area, dragging, shoving, swinging, kicking, spanking, striking, slamming children down and grabbing children aggressively. Video also seems to show Taxter covering the children's heads with blankets when they aren't lying down or behaving during nap times.
Taxter was arrested April 25, 2023.
On Thursday, Kiddie Academy provided the following statement to 13News:
"We are aware of the recent sentencing of a former employee of the previous owners of this location. The incident in question occurred in March of 2023, prior to our acquisition of the business in July of 2023. We were made aware of the matter by the former owner of the Academy and were advised that the leadership team cooperated fully with the investigation at the time of the incident. We support the efforts of law enforcement and the courts and are hopeful that the recent meeting between the former employee and parents of the children involved provided some closure on the matter.
Our team is dedicated to sound leadership decisions, swiftly addressing concerns, aligning with local licensing bodies and ensuring that the trust of each family is earned and maintained.
We are a local, privately owned independent business and parents ourselves, who care deeply about our children and our community. There is nothing more important than creating a nurturing and safe environment for the children in our care, and their families – it is our life’s commitment. "