A New Jersey girl is accused of bodily abusing at the very least six infants that she watched in her house day care.
The investigation started when a child was taken to the hospital after struggling a bruised eye. Investigators stated the infant had been within the care of Danielle Ingraham, who runs a day care out of her house on the 300 block of Evergreen Highway in Mount Laurel. Police later decided Ingraham had slapped the infant in addition to a toddler who she was additionally watching in her house.
“There’s really no excuse for it,” one in every of Ingraham’s neighbors stated. “It’s unfortunate, but it seems like it got the best of her and she reacted, which is not acceptable at all in any way, shape or form.”
Ingraham was arrested in March 2025 and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a kid and two counts of cruelty to a baby underneath her care.
Then on March 20, Ingraham was charged with abusing 4 extra kids she watched on the day care.
Ingraham allegedly injured a 5-month-old baby’s head, eyes and wrist, resulting in the infant’s hospitalization. She additionally allegedly shook a 7-month-old baby, injured the cheek of a 10-month-old baby and brought on seen accidents to the face and again of a 13-month-old baby.
“Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. Sadly, I feel. People need to be more observant on where you’re dropping your kids off, where your kids are going,” her neighbor stated.
Ingraham was launched from custody following a court docket look. Her case will now be ready for presentation to a grand jury for a potential indictment.
Ingraham’s lawyer, Gregory Shugar, responded to the allegations in a written assertion.
“We have reviewed all charges and there’s no evidence suggesting any wrongdoing on Ms. Ingraham’s part,” he wrote. “What we are witnessing is the State attempting to fabricate a narrative by assembling unrelated and weak assertions in an attempt to build a case. They are creating a story to fit a flimsy accusation regardless of facts. We look forward to exonerating Ms. Ingraham from these unsupported claims.”
Her lawyer additionally stated that the day care is suspended for the foreseeable future.
In line with a spokesperson for the New Jersey Dept. of Youngsters and Households, a baby care supplier offering for six or extra unrelated is required to be licensed by way of the DCF Workplace of Licensing.
Ingraham’s house daycare in Mount Laurel is just not listed within the on-line licensing portal, although neither DCF or Ingraham’s lawyer may affirm what number of kids had been most lately in her care.
Winifred Smith-Jenkins, Director of Early Studying for Coverage and Advocacy at Advocates for Youngsters of New Jersey, says whether or not a baby care supplier is licensed with the state doesn’t make it “better” or “worse” than one that isn’t.
“I think what we have to remember is a very undervalued profession that requires early educators to have a complex amount of skills and knowledge about developmental needs all while trying to make sure they’re caring and educating multiple children. Being able to do that for 10 to 12 hours a day definitely takes people who are dedicated to this profession,” Smith-Jenkins stated. “There are so many amazing providers who really … this their passion, this is their calling in life. They’re definitely not doing it to get rich, I can guarantee you.”
With regards to selecting a supplier, she stated dad and mom need to belief their intestine and instincts.
“Every mom and dad kind of knows, this just doesn’t feel right. You expect little people to cry or express discomfort if they’re going to a new space. If we change to a new job, it’s not always roses and butterflies when we first get there, but we eventually find our rhythm. Same thing happens for little people,” she stated. “If your baby isn’t really sleeping at night or they’re starting to display signs that you’re like, ‘This is kind of new. I have never seen before’, it’s maybe time to start having additional questions with the childcare provider who’s been there with them throughout the day.”
No phrase but on simply what number of kids had been in Ingraham’s care lately.
