ZIONSVILLE, IN – A childcare worker at a church daycare in Indiana is facing charges after allegedly causing a serious injury to a 2-year-old boy. Areeana Adeniyi, 26, is accused of breaking the child’s leg in an incident that has raised concerns over child safety at the facility.
The incident, which took place on July 23 at the Zionsville Presbyterian Church, came to public attention after the boy’s father discovered discrepancies between what he saw on a video recording and the incident report provided by the daycare. Upon reviewing the footage, the father noted that his son’s leg injury was far more severe than what had been initially reported.
According to court documents, Adeniyi informed police that while she was “playing” with the child by lifting him up and putting him down, his ankle rolled, resulting in the injury. However, the video evidence reportedly shows that the child’s tibia visibly snapped during the incident.
The father was informed by the daycare on July 24 that his son was in pain due to a potentially twisted ankle. Dissatisfied with the explanation, he took his son to the hospital, where X-rays confirmed a fractured tibia, prompting him to alert authorities.
Text messages reportedly sent by Adeniyi further revealed that she admitted to playing too roughly with the child. In one message to her supervisor, she expressed urgency and regret over potentially breaking the boy’s foot. Adeniyi claimed she was lifting the child and that he hit his foot upon landing.
When questioned by police, Adeniyi described her interactions with children as rough, intended to make them laugh, but conceded that the boy may have been squirming and upset. She described the boy as having behavioral issues, characterizing him in derogatory terms, which has sparked criticism from the boy’s parents.
Despite being informed of the child’s injuries, Adeniyi denied any intentional wrongdoing, insisting the incident was an accident. She expressed remorse over the child’s father being upset but maintained her actions were not abusive.
Zionsville Presbyterian Church has since confirmed that Adeniyi is no longer employed at their facility. They have not provided further details on how they are addressing the incident or enhancing safety measures to prevent future occurrences.
A warrant has been issued for Adeniyi’s arrest as she faces battery and neglect charges. The case highlights the importance of rigorous oversight in childcare settings and the responsibility of caregivers to ensure the safety and well-being of children in their care.
