Ohio Daycare Worker Who Taped Child's Eyes Shut to Take Plea Deal, Court Says

An Ohio daycare worker who allegedly forced a one-year-old's eye shut with painters' tape and reportedly terrorised several other children will plead guilty to a reduced charge after testimony from staff and parents revealed the depth of the abuse, prosecutors announced this week.​

Katelyn Strohacker faces 31 charges relating to the abuse of eight children, including five counts of kidnapping and 14 counts of endangering children. She had previously entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and was deemed competent to stand trial in November 2025, according to a report by Law & Crime.

Details of the Horrific Abuse

On Feb. 20, a motion obtained by Law & Crime was filed to cancel the scheduled jury trial. The motion stated that 'Strohacker, by and through counsel ... respectfully asks this court to cancel the currently scheduled jury trial and set the matter for a change of plea and sentencing hearing. Based on conversations with Ms. Strohacker and the state, Counsel can now represent to the Court that this matter will be resolved through a plea.'​

Strohacker allegedly abused children between July 7 and Aug. 7 last year at Over the Rainbow Children's Center in Pataskala, Licking County, Ohio. Court documents state that the incidents were recorded on the daycare's surveillance camera, including one two-year-old reportedly suffering most of the abuse.

Police launched an investigation in August 2025 after a parent of a two-year-old child contacted them. According to reports, this parent was first notified about the incident by the centre's director, Jamie Schoelkopf.

Court documents also state that Strohacker allegedly taped a child's eyes shut, bound her hands and feet, and left her alone, face down under a blanket for over an hour. During an interview, Strohacker told investigators that it happened on more than one occasion after admitting to the act.

Strohacker was arrested and subsequently released on a $50,000 (£37,000) bond, with conditions preventing unsupervised contact with children. Her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 28.

Severe Abuse Resulting in Night Terrors

Recordings from the centre's surveillance cameras allegedly show Strohacker using painters' tape to restrain a child and pull his arms, and in a separate incident, trapping a child's finger in a cabinet door.

In a Superseding Bill of Particulars dated Oct. 31, 2025, the children suffered abuse that involved kicking, yanking and yelling. The two-year-old who suffered most of the abuse received frequent yanking and shoving, and in one incident, Strohacker deliberately shut the cabinet door on her finger.

The document stated that four of the victims received evaluation and treatment from the Nationwide Children's Hospital and that the children have reportedly experienced sleep disturbances, night terrors, separation anxiety, and behavioural problems resulting from the abuse. They subsequently underwent psychological evaluations, and several were referred to mental health counselling.​

In a statement to 10TV, the daycare said both the defendant and the supervisor have been dismissed. The centre added that, 'Safety is a top priority. We became aware of an incident with a former employee. As a result of the incident, both the employee and supervisor have been terminated. We have been in contact with the family of the child involved and reported the incident to authorities. We are and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.'​

Strohacker is scheduled to return to court on April 7 for sentencing and to change her plea.