A 41-year-old nanny is behind bars in California after witnesses at a public park reported seeing her repeatedly strike a 22-month-old girl in her care. Suzanne Michelle Buhler was arrested by Lincoln Police on March 16 following a 911 call from Markham Ravine Park.
The incident came to light when a local landscaper heard a child crying and witnessed what appeared to be physical abuse. He began recording the encounter on his phone and contacted authorities. According to the police, several concerned witnesses followed Buhler from the park back to a nearby residence to ensure officers could locate her.
When police arrived, they found the toddler with “visible injuries consistent with the reported assault.” The child received medical treatment and has since been returned to her family.
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Buhler had been working for the family for several months after being hired through Care.com. The parents expressed total disbelief, noting that Buhler had previously seemed attentive and helpful.
“She was really developing our child in a very positive manner,” the victim’s father told KCRA. The mother even compared her to “Nanny McPhee,” noting the toddler had learned to count and recite the alphabet under Buhler’s supervision.
However, the mother told The Sacramento Bee that she had recently noticed her daughter becoming more aggressive. She claimed the incident at the park was sparked by a potty training accident. “My daughter pooped her pants,” the mother said. “Sue was p—ed off that she pooped her pants.”
After reviewing the witness footage, the father described the violence as extreme, stating that Buhler “raised her hand above her head and had significant force coming down on my baby’s sweet face.”
The Lincoln Police Department is now expanding its investigation. Because Buhler advertised her childcare services on various platforms, detectives are asking other families who employed her to come forward. They are also reopening a 2023 case involving a child who was reportedly injured while under Buhler’s supervision.
“This behavior is not acceptable in Lincoln,” said police spokesperson Capt. Zach Eaton. Authorities have stated they intend to hold the offender fully accountable as the investigation continues.
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