Kathryn Taska, 27, is charged with aggravated assault of a person less than 6 and endangering the welfare of a child following an investigation by Quarryville Police

QUARRYVILLE, Pa. — A former instructor at a Lancaster County childcare center is facing charges after police say she broke a child’s leg while trying to place her in a child safety chair earlier this month.

Kathryn Michelle Taska, 27, of New Providence, was charged with aggravated assault of a person less than 6 years of age and endangering the welfare of a child after an investigation by Quarryville Police.

According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed by investigators, the victim’s mother contacted authorities on November 3 are picking up her infant child from Shining Stars Child Care in Quarryville. The victim was “inconsolable and not acting like herself,” the mother later told police.

Believing the girl had a fever, the mother took her to the emergency room of an area hospital for treatment, where it was discovered the girl was suffering from a “non-displaced fracture” of her lower left leg, according to police. The victim was transported to Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center for additional care. 

Staff at Hershey Medical Center determined the girl could not have been injured accidentally, police said.

Investigators spoke to Taska and other staff members at Shining Stars. During the interview, police claim, Taska “knew about the victim’s injury before being asked a question” and  “changed her story about the events multiple times.”

Taska told police she went on break while the girl was napping, and after her nap the victim “seemed fine but just a little fussy.”

She also told police she noticed the girl appeared to have a leg injury and informed the center’s assistant director and the child’s mother about it.

Both the assistant director and the victim’s mother contradicted her statement, according to police.

The victim’s mother and other staff at the center told police the girl was acting normally when she was dropped off. One staff member told police she observed Taska trying to put the girl in a child safety chair, and after that the victim “was distraught and cried constantly” and continued to cry until her mother came to pick her up.

Taska told police she did not recall the victim being harmed when she was placed in the chair and was unsure of why the girl was crying, according to the complaint.

Police said the investigation made it clear that “the injury occurred at the child care center,” and that the injury occurred “at some point during her interaction with Ms. Taska.” 

Nikolaus & Hohenadel LLP, a law firm representing Shining Stars Early Learning of Lancaster LLC, said Taska is no longer employed by the childcare center in a statement issued to FOX43 on Thursday.

“Shining Stars Early Learning of Lancaster LLC is aware of the recent allegations involving a former employee,” the statement said. “The former employee in question was immediately removed from the facility and is no longer employed at Shining Stars. We take these allegations seriously and are fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities as they conduct their investigation. The safety, trust, and well-being of the children and families we serve have always been and continue to be our top priority.”