A former daycare worker at New Hope Childcare Center and Preschool in Westmoreland County is under scrutiny for alleged child abuse that reportedly took place earlier this month. According to WTAE, Krista Ondish, 58, faces charges including aggravated assault of a victim under 6, simple assault, and endangering the welfare of children. Following a report from a mother, Scottdale police investigated an incident allegedly involving Ondish assaulting a 4-year-old child on September 5.
The district attorney’s office indicated that the child's mother became aware of the employee's dismissal and pursued more information. She then saw a daycare video that allegedly showed Ondish "pinning the child in a corner" and even allowing another child to hit the victim, which prompted her to alert authorities. Ondish, who is now released on a $50,000 bail, previously downplayed the incident to the mother, according to a report by WPXI. Following the incident, the mother claims her child has become withdrawn.
Concerns about New Hope Childcare and Preschool have been voiced in the past. Jamie Daugherty, a former New Hope Childcare mom, disclosed that she reported the daycare years ago due to her twin sons coming home with unexplained bruises. She expressed frustration over the lack of action taken, telling WTAE, "We tried for so long to have something done about what they were doing to my children, and nothing was ever done." Her sister, Joy Burkholder, similarly recounted finding one of the twins restrained in a chair during an early pickup.
Allegations dating back to 2023 corroborate a history of concerning disciplinary practices at the daycare. Bobby Murphy, the grandfather of Daugherty's children, reported an incident to the state that led to the Office of Child Development and Early Learning issuing a citation against the daycare for restraining a child.
