A 24-year-old Raleigh daycare worker is facing a felony child abuse charge after a young boy suffered a broken leg during a transition to floor seating.
Ashley Nicole Taris, a former employee at the KinderCare on Mitchell Mill Road, was charged with child abuse and inflicting serious bodily injury following an investigation into the August 22, 2025, incident.
Court documents detail a sequence of events that began when Taris allegedly pulled the child into a seated position. The child informed investigators that his leg was injured while being forced into a “criss-cross applesauce” posture.
Medical examinations later confirmed the boy suffered a spiral fracture of the tibia, an injury that local news outlet WRAL noted was consistent with the physical mechanics described by the child.
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Following the incident, North Carolina state regulators moved to disqualify Taris from providing child care. A complaint filed in Wake County court indicates this disqualification was formalized in November 2025.
While Taris initially remained at the center under a specific safety plan, KinderCare confirmed she has not been at the facility since October 2025 and is no longer employed by the company.
In an official statement, a KinderCare spokesperson addressed the situation, stating, “At KinderCare, the safety and well-being of the children in our care is always our top priority.”
The company noted that they notified the child’s family and the necessary state agencies immediately following the report.
The spokesperson further clarified that while Taris was briefly allowed to teach under supervision, state licensing officials eventually directed her removal from the classroom as the investigation gained momentum.
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