COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Delaware County woman was arrested and charged after her in-home camera system allegedly recorded her causing physical harm to a 10-month-old girl who was under her care, according to court documents.
A complaint in the Delaware Common Pleas Court says 52-year-old Rhonda Coomes reportedly caused the child harm by striking her multiple times in the face and nose area with the palm of her hand. Coomes was running an in-home day care in Radnor at the time.
The complaint also states that she hit the child with a hard plastic diaper wipe container.
The 10-month-old victim also endured physical harm when she was allegedly tossed landing on her back into a pack-and-play. At the end of the day, court documents say the child had a black eye.
Prosecutors say the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office obtained nearly two months of videos recorded inside Coomes’ home, and after reviewing only a few days so far, Coomes is seen “cruelly abusing children in her home.”
In the state’s bond recommendation, prosecutors call the weight of evidence against Coomes “overwhelming.”
Coomes was indicted on three endangering children charges and one kidnapping charge. Bond has been set at $500,000 and her trial date is scheduled for May 16.
A mother who used to send her children to the day care, spoke to 10TV after learning about the investigation.
“It is absolutely traumatizing, and I feel very violated not just for myself, but for my kids because she is who I trusted to watch them. I was a single mother at the time so while I was out working and my kids couldn't be watched by anybody else, she was the woman that I trusted,” she said.
Looking back she has noticed red flags, but said she placed her trust in Coomes, even recommending her to other families.
“No parent deserves to feel the way that I feel as a parent who doesn’t know what happened,” she said.
“The key thing is to trust your gut at some level and to trust your kids. If they are coming home and saying information that doesn't sit right that is the time to ask some questions, ask your kids to share more, ask the childcare providers,” said Kat Glenn-Applegate, Director of Child Care and Education Initiatives at Action for Children.
Action for Children recommends people use their “5C checklist” when vetting a day care center.
“Those 5 Cs are Count which means the ratio and number of children in the room. The Content that is taught. The Caregiver, the person who is interacting with the children. Make sure there is a Contract in place that you have reliable care that is gonna stay open, and open Communication between the parent and childcare provider,” Glenn-Applegate said.
If parents suspect abuse, it can be reported without evidence.
“You don't have to evidence of abuse, you have to have a reason for it. You have to have, ‘something doesn't feel right, I observed this’, and then it is the job of the professionals to say we are gonna take that information and then we will investigate and decide,” Glenn-Applegate said.
In Delaware County, people can report suspected child abuse to 740-833-2340.
The Franklin County Child Abuse hotline is 614-229-7000.
Abuse can also be reported to childcarepolicy@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov or (877) 302-2347.
Prosecutors are requesting additional bond conditions including: no contact with any of the families who used her day care services, no contact with minor children and electronically monitored house arrest.