Daycare director, two caregivers indicted over 400 alleged abuse incidents involving 17

The State Attorney's Office filed an indictment with the Central District Court in Lod on Sunday against the director of a private daycare center in Ariel and two caregivers, accusing them of more than 400 incidents of abuse and assault involving 17 infants and toddlers aged six months to three years.

The defendants are Natalia Kasilevsky, 37, director of the private Luchik daycare center, and two caregivers employed at the facility, Darina Halufa, 37, and Anna Pagelsky, 40.

Prosecution requests to keep defendants in custody

The prosecution has asked the court to keep the three women in custody until the legal proceedings conclude.

According to the state, the indictment, filed by attorney Yehonatan Ayalon-Hirsch of the Central District Attorney's Office, describes an exceptionally severe pattern of prolonged violence and abuse against infants and young toddlers at the Luchik daycare center, some of whom were only a few months old.

The defendants allegedly exploited their positions at the daycare center, the imbalance of power between themselves and the children, and the toddlers' complete dependence on them. On numerous occasions, they allegedly assaulted and abused the children, causing them physical and psychological pain.

The indictment charges the defendants with multiple offenses committed jointly, including abuse of a minor or helpless person by a responsible caregiver, assault of a helpless person by a responsible caregiver causing actual bodily harm, and assault under aggravated circumstances.

According to the indictment, the defendants implemented a series of cruel "punishment methods" at the daycare center.

The "choking method" involved gripping the toddlers' heads and forcibly obstructing their airways using their hands, paper, or cloth, while holding the backs of their necks to prevent them from moving.

The defendants allegedly shook the toddlers, bent their heads and bodies forward, and forcibly pressed them against mattresses for extended periods.

Workers allegedly obstructed children's airways

In some cases, the defendants repeatedly obstructed the children's airways even after they began gasping for air, turned red, and struggled to breathe, allegedly causing them to become disoriented and lose their balance.

The "restraint method" involved aggressively wrapping the toddlers' bodies in fabric and blankets, with their arms pinned against their bodies, and tightly binding them in a manner that prevented any movement while placing them on their stomachs.

In some cases, caregivers Anna and Darina allegedly force-fed toddlers while they were restrained. According to the indictment, the caregivers tilted the children's heads backward, applied physical pressure to force their jaws open, and rapidly and forcibly pushed pureed food into their mouths.

They also allegedly wiped the children's faces aggressively and painfully with paper. Another alleged punishment method involved confining toddlers in a closed, dark room for significant periods without supervision.

The children were allegedly left in the room as punishment, while their cries and attempts to leave were ignored. In addition to the severe physical harm and abuse allegedly inflicted on the children, the indictment also charges the defendants with psychologically abusing the toddlers.

According to the prosecution, the defendants frequently carried out the alleged acts in the presence of other toddlers at the daycare center, who witnessed the incidents.

The children were repeatedly and continuously exposed to acts of violence and abuse allegedly committed against other toddlers. In some cases, the children reportedly responded by crying and approaching the child who had been harmed.

The prosecution argues that exposing the toddlers to the physical abuse of other children also constituted psychological abuse and has therefore included an additional charge of psychological abuse against the defendants.

The case was investigated by a special investigative team from the Samaria District's investigative and intelligence unit and the Ariel Police Station.