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News18
5 days ago
- General
- News18
On CCTV, NYC Babysitter Beats Kids With Belt, Scares Them With Spooky Costume
Last Updated: La'keysha Jackson had been working with Bronx mother Geraldine Jaramillo through a city-run programme by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS). A disturbing video has surfaced online showing a New York babysitter beating three small children with a belt but nearly four weeks later, no arrest has been made. The children's family is heartbroken and demanding justice. According to the New York Post, 24-year-old La'keysha Jackson had been working with Bronx mother Geraldine Jaramillo through a city-run programme by the Administration for Children's Services (ACS). The programme, meant to help struggling families, sent Jackson to care for Jaramillo's sons – ages 2, 4 and 6 – through a contracted agency called Selfhelp. The abuse was discovered on May 6 when the children's grandmother who lives in Pennsylvania checked a surveillance camera in the home. The footage showed Jackson hitting the children repeatedly with a thick brown belt, holding down their arms as they cried and tried to block the blows. In the clip, Jackson could be heard saying, 'Guess what's about to happen?" One of the boys responded nervously, 'Belt?" Jackson replied, 'You're right — I warned y'all. Drop 'em." The video being shared online shows only part of the abuse. The New York Post reported that Jackson also dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit and wore a terrifying Halloween mask from a horror movie Terrifier II to scare the children. While this part isn't seen in the viral footage, the mother said she later found the costume in her home. 'She was beating the kids every other day," said Rudy Enamorado, the boys' grandfather. 'Hitting the kids with hangers, hitting them with belts, throwing the baby," 'Hitting the kids with the [clothes] hangers, hitting them with belts, throwing the baby," Jaramillo recounted. The family acted immediately after seeing the video. They reported the horrifying behaviour to ACS and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The family also filed a complaint against Jackson on what would be felony charges. 'They promised to arrest her and it's been three — almost four — weeks and nothing has happened yet," Jaramillo told the Post. When police arrived at the home, there were about 10 to 12 officers and detectives. Enamorado recalled that 'one seasoned detective" even cried after watching the video. 'That made us assured that she was going to get arrested that same night. But to this day, nothing has been taken care of," he said. The report further mentioned that ACS has opened an investigation into Jaramillo instead and claimed she didn't provide the right hospital documents. 'I'm under investigation too. They say it's protocol," she said. Selfhelp has reportedly fired Jackson and said they are cooperating fully with the police. ACS also said they are taking the matter seriously and are reviewing procedures. Jackson has not responded to any messages. In her last text to Jaramillo, she professed her 'love" for the boys and called what happened 'a learning experience. The family described her message as 'infuriating." Now, the boys are showing signs of trauma. Jaramillo said they are afraid to use the bathroom, take off their clothes or leave their bedroom. The mother said that they are now intensely aggressive with each other.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
On CCTV, US Babysitter Hits Children With Belt, Uses Horror Costumes To Scare Them
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A viral video shows New York babysitter Lakeysha Jackson abusing three young children with a belt and scaring them in costumes. The family reported the abuse, but Jackson has not been arrested. A video has gone viral showing a New York babysitter repeatedly beating three children with a belt. La'keysha Jackson, a city-funded babysitter, also scaring them with a spooky Santa Claus costume, The NY Post reported. She routinely abused three children under the age of six, a family claimed, adding they had it all on CCTV footage. A year ago, the 24-year-old began working for Geraldine Jaramillo through a contractor funded by the city's Administration for Children's Services (ACS). The service assigns babysitters to low-income families to help with childcare. The single Bronx mother claimed that she became aware of Jackson's abusive behaviour last month when the children's grandmother, who lives in Pennsylvania, inspected a home security camera in the bedroom. The grandmother was appalled to discover the babysitter was abusing the boys, who were two, four, and six years old. The video showed Jackson hitting two of the wailing kids almost 60 times. The caregiver appears to be slapping the children on their buttocks and holding their small arms while they attempt to block the blows. New York City-funded babysitter caught on camera beating three children with a belt in footage obtained by the New York Post. Horrific. In the footage, 24-year-old La'keysha Jackson could be seen taunting the kids with a belt before making them bend over — CHUKWE (@chukwe) June 2, 2025 In the footage, the abusive babysitter is heard complaining that the two elder children, four and six years old, had not cleaned their room. She was later seen taking out a heavy brown belt from a cross-body bag. Jackson also donned a Santa Claus costume that Ms Jaramillo found in her house and a hideous Halloween mask from the graphic slasher movie 'Terrifier II', attempting to scare the children. In the wake of the startling May 6 occurrence, Ms Jaramillo told The Post, "We went to the hospital, called the police, and filed the report." According to the mother, the babysitter allegedly verbally and emotionally abused the children, "hitting them with the [clothes] hangers, hitting them with belts, throwing the baby." Jackson has not yet been taken into custody, said the family, even after they reported the horrific behaviour to ACS and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and filed a complaint against her on what would be considered felony charges. Ms Jaramillo's lawyer filed a notice of claim on Monday, stating that she intended to sue Jackson over her abusive behaviour. She claimed that following the May 6 incident, ACS conducted a home visit, apologised after viewing the footage, and then launched an investigation against her rather than Jackson because she did not have the papers from the children's hospital visit that day.
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Sky News AU
Taxpayer-funded babysitter accused of brutally beating New York toddlers with a belt as horrified family demand answers
Disturbing surveillance video obtained by The Post shows a city-funded babysitter repeatedly walloping three little kids with a belt and donning a creepy Santa Claus costume to scare them — and the horrified family is now demanding answers. La'keysha Jackson, 24, began working for Bronx mother Geraldine Jaramillo a year ago via a contractor paid for by the city's Administration for Children's Services that provides struggling families with babysitters to help with caretaking. The single mom said she discovered the alleged violent treatment last month when the kids' Pennsylvania-based grandma checked a home surveillance camera in the bedroom — and was horrified to learn that the babysitter was beating the children, boys ages 2, 4 and 6. But despite the family reporting the horrifying behavior to ACS and the NYPD — and filing a complaint against Jackson on what would be felony charges — she has yet to be arrested, the family said. 'We called the police and filed the report and we went to the hospital,' Jaramillo told The Post of the aftermath of the shocking May 6 incident. 'They promised to arrest her and it's been three — almost four — weeks and nothing has happened yet.' The video shows the brutal babysitter beating two of the crying children nearly 60 times, according to a notice of claim filed by Jaramillo's attorney Monday indicating her intent to sue. In the footage, the callous caretaker can be seen whipping the underwear-clad children's behinds and restraining their tiny arms as they try in vain to deflect the blows. 'Guess what's about to happen?' she can be heard saying, apparently upset that the two older kids, aged 4 and 6, did not clean up their room. 'Belt?' one of the young boys answers as Jackson, wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Heaven Sent,' pulls a thick brown belt out of a cross-body bag. 'You're right — I warned y'all,' she replies cheerily, chillingly adding: 'Drop 'em.' The babysitter also bizarrely wore a grotesque Halloween mask from gory slasher flick 'Terrifier II' and a Santa Claus outfit — which Jaramillo discovered in her home — to apparently frighten the children, footage shows. Jackson was employed by home aid provider Selfhelp, contracted by the troubled ACS, through its homemaking program that provides struggling city families with a babysitter to help with caretaking, according to Jaramillo and documentation shared with The Post. But what was supposed to be miraculous help turned into a living nightmare for the mom, who first got connected with the homemaking service while fleeing a domestic violence situation, she said. Until her own mom found the video, Jaramillo said she and her parents considered Jackson a member of the family, celebrating holidays together and letting her sleep in a spare bedroom occasionally to avoid the long trek back to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn from the Bronx. But the family then came to learn 'she was beating the kids every other day,' said the kids' grandpa Rudy Enamorado, who drove two hours from his Pennsylvania home once he saw the footage. 'Hitting the kids with the [clothes] hangers, hitting them with belts, throwing the baby,' Jaramillo recounted, claiming that the babysitter also doled out emotional and verbal abuse to the children. Jackson was the second sitter sent to the family after the first from the same ACS-contracted agency was discovered drinking and smoking at a playground while watching the kids, Jaramillo claimed. 'The worst thing we did was let our guard down,' said Enamorado. His wife, the kids' grandmother, only checked the nannycam on May 6 because Jaramillo started a new job and had asked her to make sure the babysitter was putting the boys to bed on time, she said. After the family reported what they saw, and brought the kids to a hospital to get checked out in the aftermath of the beating, Enamorado recalled how there were 'maybe like 10-12 police and detectives in the house' — and said a 'seasoned detective' wept upon viewing the video. 'That made us assured that she was going to get arrested that same night,' he said. 'But to this day, nothing has been taken care of.' Jackson did not reply to requests for comment, but in her last text message to Jaramillo, shared with The Post, she professed her 'love' for the boys. 'It's a learning experience for us all,' the message read — which Jaramillo said was 'infuriating.' 'I am their number one supporter when it comes to their safety and well being,' it concluded. Jackson's brother told a Post reporter outside of their Bed-Stuy home Monday that what the video depicted was normal in black families. 'Abuse my ass,' he said, 'That happens in black families all the time.' It's unclear how much Jackson was paid, but Selfhelp currently has a $1.23 million contract with ACS for homemaking services, records show. A recent exposé by The Post revealed that seven children have died while in ACS care since the start of last year, with many more suffering abuse. Despite the troubling data, oversight over the agency is lacking, said the city's Department of Investigation commissioner, Jocelyn Strauber, in a Saturday opinion essay for The Post calling for a change in current onerous oversight rules — unique to ACS. Jaramillo alleged that after the May 6 incident, ACS did a home visit, and apologized after viewing the video, but then opened an investigation into her — instead of Jackson — claiming she lacked documentation from the kids' hospital visit that day. 'I'm under investigation too,' she said, adding that ACS workers have been doing home visits every other week since. 'They say it's protocol.' An ACS spokesperson did not address that claim, but said that Jackson no longer works for Selfhelp and that ACS was working with the NYPD in its investigation. 'We are taking these despicable actions very seriously, and we have commenced a review of the contracted provider's procedures,' the rep said. A Selfhelp spokesperson confirmed that Jackson had been terminated and that the company is fully cooperating with the NYPD, claiming that it performs drug testing and background checks on all their workers. Police sources said cops attempted to arrest Jackson Monday morning on assault and child endangerment charges, but were unable to. 'I don't want the service no more,' Jaramillo said of the ACS homemaking program. 'I had two very bad experiences with that agency and with the homemakers.' Her kids are now scared to take off their clothes, leave their bedroom — or even use the bathroom, their mom said. 'They say the bathroom is scary,' Jaramillo told The Post, 'we don't understand why.' The boys are also now intensely aggressive with each other, fighting, hitting and even sitting on the baby to the point of suffocation, the mom said. 'They're so traumatized,' Jaramillo said. 'I don't know where they're learning these things, I don't know if they're repeating stuff that was happening to them.' The grandfather, Enamorado, added: 'They were never like this before … They have rage.' The family's lawyer, Daniel Szalkiewicz, said he hopes the story can serve as a 'wake up call to parents.' 'No matter who recommended your childcare provider – a friend, family, or even if it's the agency that holds itself as the paragon of good childcare — don't let your guard down,' Szalkiewicz said. 'Even if there are cameras, even if they're supposed to be trained, even if you trust them implicitly. It can happen to anyone.' Jaramillo — who works as a caseworker for senior citizens — said that nobody suspected the babysitter could have been beating the children because everyone, including at the kids' school, 'loved her.' 'When I found some bruising, she would always tell me 'oh, they were fighting, or they were playing, or they fell at school,'' the mom recalled. Jaramillo, whose aunt is now helping with childcare, said she wants justice for her kids — and to figure out what exactly happened in her home. 'I really want to get to the bottom of this,' she said. 'Just seeing them — it's like they are completely different kids. They are going through a lot. They may not verbalize it, but they are.' Originally published as Taxpayer-funded babysitter accused of brutally beating New York toddlers with a belt as horrified family demand answers
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Disturbing video shows taxpayer-funded babysitter brutally beating NYC tots with a belt — and horrified family demands answers
Disturbing surveillance video obtained by The Post shows a city-funded babysitter repeatedly walloping three little kids with a belt and donning a creepy Santa Claus costume to scare them — and the horrified family is now demanding answers. La'keysha Jackson, 24, began working for Bronx mother Geraldine Jaramillo a year ago via a contractor paid for by city's Administration for Children's Services that provides struggling families with babysitters to help with caretaking. 9 A shocked family says that babysitter La'keysha Jackson – paid for by a city program – was discovered regularly beating three kids under 6-year-old, according to video footage. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz The single mom said she discovered the violent treatment last month when the kids' grandma checked a home surveillance camera in the bedroom — and was horrified to learn that the babysitter was secretly beating the children, boys ages 2, 4 and 6. But despite the family reporting the horrifying behavior to ACS and the NYPD — and Jackson getting charged with a pair of felonies — she has yet to be arrested, the family said. The video shows her beating two of the crying children nearly 60 times, according to a notice of claim filed by Jaramillo's attorney Monday indicating her intent to sue. In the footage from May 6, the brutal babysitter can be seen whipping the underwear-clad children's behinds and restraining their tiny arms as they try in vain to deflect the blows. 'Guess what's about to happen,' she can be heard saying, apparently upset that the two older kids, aged 4 and 6, did not clean up their room. 'Belt?' one of the young boys answers as Jackson, wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Heaven Sent,' pulls a thick brown belt out of a cross-body bag. 'You're right — I warned y'all,' she replies cheerily, chillingly adding: 'Drop 'em.' 9 La'keysha Jackson was considered a member of the family for the year she worked with them through a taxpayer-funded program. Facebook / Lakeysha Jackson 9 But secretly, Jackson was donning grotesque costumes and beating the children while the single mom was at work. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz The babysitter also bizarrely wore a grotesque Halloween mask and a Santa Claus outfit — which Jaramillo discovered in her home — to apparently frighten the children, footage shows. Jackson was employed by home aid provider Selfhelp, contracted by the troubled ACS, through its homemaking program that provides struggling city families with a babysitter to help with caretaking, according to Jaramillo and documentation shared with The Post. But what was supposed to be miraculous help turned into a living nightmare for the mom, who first got connected with the homemaking service while fleeing a domestic violence situation, she said. Until her own mom found the video, Jaramillo said she and her parents considered Jackson a member of the family, celebrating holidays together and letting her sleep in a spare bedroom occasionally to avoid the long trek back to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn from the Bronx. 9 Jaramillo told The Post that Jackson, pictured, was the second sitter sent to the family after the first from the same ACS-contracted agency was discovered drinking and smoking at a playground while watching the kids. Facebook / Lakeysha Jackson 9 A still from a graphic video showing Jackson taking out a belt before beating the two young children a total of 58 times. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz But the family then came to learn 'she was beating the kids every other day,' said the kids' grandpa Rudy Enamorado, who drove two hours from his Pennsylvania home once he saw the footage. 'Hitting the kids with the [clothes] hangers, hitting them with belts, throwing the baby,' Jaramillo recounted, claiming that the babysitter also doled out emotional and verbal abuse to the children. The kids are now scared to take off their clothes, leave their bedroom — or even use the bathroom. 9 The last text message sent by Jackson to the single mom after the May 6 incident. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz 'They say the bathroom is scary,' Jaramillo told The Post, 'we don't understand why.' The boys are also now intensely aggressive with each other, fighting, hitting and even sitting on the baby to the point of suffocation, the mom said. 'They're so traumatized,' Jaramillo said. 'I don't know where they're learning these things, I don't know if they're repeating stuff that was happening to them.' 9 The children cried and screamed as they were wailed upon by their city-funded caretaker. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz Jackson was the second sitter sent to the family after the first from the same ACS-contracted agency was discovered drinking and smoking at a playground while watching the kids, Jaramillo claimed. 'The worst thing we did was let our guard down,' said grandfather Enamorado. Jackson did not reply to requests for comment, but in her last text message to Jaramillo, shared with The Post, she professed her 'love' for the boys. 'It's a learning experience for us all,' the message said. 'I am their number one supporter when it comes to their safety and well being.' It's unclear how much Jackson was paid, but Selfhelp currently has a $1.23 million contract with ACS for homemaking services, records show. Jaramillo alleged that after the May 6 incident, ACS opened an investigation into her — instead of Jackson — claiming she lacked documentation from the kids' hospital visit that day. An ACS spokesperson did not address that claim, but said that Jackson no longer works for Selfhelp and that ACS was working with the NYPD in its investigation. 'We are taking these despicable actions very seriously, and we have commenced a review of the contracted provider's procedures,' the rep said. A Selfhelp spokesperson confirmed that Jackson had been terminated and that the company is fully cooperating with the NYPD, claiming that it performs drug testing and background checks on all their workers. 9 Jackson did not reply to requests for comment, but in the last text message to Jaramillo, she professes her 'love' for the boys. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz Police sources said cops attempted to arrest Jackson Monday morning on assault and child endangerment charges, but were unable to. 9 Jackson's brother told a Post reporter outside of their Bed-Stuy home that what the video depicted was normal in Black families. Facebook / Lakeysha Jackson Jackson's brother told a Post reporter outside of their Bed-Stuy home that what the video depicted was normal in Black families. 'Abuse my ass,' he said Monday, 'That happens in black families all the time.' Jaramillo, whose aunt is now helping with childcare, said she wants justice for her kids — and to figure out what exactly happened in her home. 'I really want to get to the bottom of this.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Majority of low-income families can keep their child care vouchers for now: ACS commissioner
New York City plans to pony up new funding for child care assistance, narrowly avoiding a doomsday scenario for now where tens of thousands of families could have lost access to their vouchers. During a City Council hearing Monday on the budget of the Administration for Children's Services, the city agency that issues the subsidy, Commissioner Jess Dannhauser said lawmakers could anticipate local investments that unlock matching funds from the state. 'Does that mean that we should fully anticipate that the [funding] will be included in the city's adopted budget in June?' asked Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn). 'The conversations we've had with OMB, that is our expectation,' said Dannhauser, referring to the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget. The commissioner offered the caveat, though, that their ability to provide families with vouchers is still subject to change based on federal and state policies. The popular Child Care Assistance Program was on the brink of a crisis earlier this year when state funding for assistance failed to keep pace with growing demand — threatening to kick 4,000 to 7,000 children off vouchers each month when their parents were due for annual recertification. Defending the growing costs as unsustainable for the state to shoulder alone, Gov. Hochul put forward a deal with the Legislature where New York City could draw down an additional up to $350 million — so long as it matches the commitment in the municipal budget. The city was the only county statewide that had to up its investment in order to qualify for the new funds. Despite the offer on the table, no funding for the vouchers was included in Mayor Adams' executive budget plan. In the weeks that followed, City Hall froze new enrollment in the voucher program for families not federally mandated to receive the assistance. Local officials also mounted a last-ditch appeal to Albany for more funding, which proved unsuccessful. But the state did approve a plan late Sunday night that will allow ACS to continue serving the 'vast majority' of children that currently have vouchers, Dannhauser revealed at the hearing. Under the terms of the agreement, families in three priority groups — under 300% of the federal poverty line, homeless or with disabilities — will be eligible for recertification. Previously, any family making less than 85% of the state median income qualified for the subsidy. The change in eligibility requirements is expected to result in a total of 2,000 low-income children losing their vouchers, out of nearly 70,000 enrolled with the at-risk subsidy. 'By and large, we're able, for the time being, to achieve continuity. But I have to say, the state has really stuck the city with the bill,' Dannhauser said. It was not clear Monday if and when the waitlist can be opened, though he promised to 'keep a close eye' on the matter. Under the state budget deal, New York raised how much the city has to contribute to the voucher program by 518% — from $53 million to $328 million. Only when the municipal budget hits that minimum will the city be able to unlock the one-time state matching funds, according the commissioner, which apply to every dollar over the former base. 'Who came up with this [ridiculous] process?' said Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), chair of the finance committee. Ahead of the hearing, dozens of child care advocates and children rallied on the steps of City Hall, calling on city lawmakers to invest in afterschool programs and child care vouchers. 'The state has made a commitment of funds to support the child care assistance program, but it requires the city to match it, and we need the city to do its part,' said Gregory Brender, chief policy and innovation officer of the Day Care Council of New York. Annie Minguez, director of government and community relations for Good Shepherd Services, also urged the city to invest in the vouchers: 'We want to work with the city to ensure that happens,' she said, calling the alternative 'devastating.' A final city budget is due at the end of next month.
