Daycare Staff Charged with Brutal Abuse of 17 Toddlers

The Central District Prosecutor's Office has filed a severe indictment against Natalia Kasilvsky, 37, the manager of the private "Luchik" daycare in Ariel, and two caregivers, Darina Khalova, 37, and Anna Pegelski, 40. The indictment details over 400 documented instances of systematic violence and abuse against 17 infants and toddlers aged six months to three years.

The accused allegedly exploited the children's complete dependence, employing cruel "punishment methods" as routine. These included "choking methods" where infants' airways were forcibly blocked with hands, cloths, or paper, while their heads were held to prevent movement. Simultaneously, the caregivers would shake the toddlers, bend their bodies, and press them forcefully onto mattresses for extended periods. Choking was repeated even as infants struggled for air, turning red, and losing consciousness.

Another alleged method involved "binding" the toddlers tightly in cloths and blankets, restricting their movement, and placing them on their stomachs. In some cases, bound infants were force-fed by tilting their heads back, prying open their jaws, and violently shoving pureed food into their mouths, accompanied by painful face-wiping. Toddlers were also isolated and locked in a dark, unmonitored room for prolonged periods as punishment, ignoring their prolonged crying and attempts to escape.

The prosecution also attributes psychological abuse to the defendants, noting that the systematic acts were often performed in front of other children in the daycare. The investigation, a joint effort by the Samaria Judea and Samaria Police and the Ariel station, revealed that the toddlers witnessed the severe violence against their peers, with some documented approaching the attacked child in distress.

Alongside the indictment, the prosecution requested the detention of the three defendants until the legal proceedings conclude, emphasizing their high level of danger. They are accused of child abuse by a caregiver, assault causing actual bodily harm to a helpless person, and aggravated assault. The prosecution stated the defendants betrayed the parents' trust, turning the daycare into a place of constant fear instead of a safe environment.