Former childcare worker in Hartly charged with abuse

HARTLY — A 24-year-old Dover woman was charged with multiple counts of child abuse Thursday.

Delaware State Police said that on Dec. 6, 2023, they were notified by staff at Hartly Learning Academy of possible physical abuse to a child by a former child care employee, identified as Kayla Manuszak.

Through investigation, police said, detectives determined that between Nov. 30, 2023 and Dec. 4, 2023, Ms. Manuszak had physically abused six infants under her care.

The infants’ ages ranged from 5 to 14 months. All of the children have been medically evaluated and received the appropriate medical care, according to authorities.

Police said a warrant was obtained Thursday and Ms. Manuszak turned herself in at Troop 3.

Ms. Manuszak was charged with third-degree child abuse (21 counts) and endangering the welfare of a child (14 counts). She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Correctional Institution on a $119,000 cash bond.