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New York Post
18 hours ago
- New York Post
ACS and babysitting contractor to be investigated following Post story on alleged child abuse
The Administration for Children's Services and a longtime city contractor will be investigated by the city's independent watchdog after a city-funded babysitter was allegedly caught on camera beating a pair of young children nearly 60 times with a belt, The Post has learned. ACS and contractor Selfhelp will be probed by the Department of Investigation just days after The Post reported on how the agency twice failed a single mom and domestic violence survivor. The story 'raises serious concerns about the vetting practices of this ACS-contracted vendor, among other issues,' a DOI spokesperson said, adding that they plan to undertake an investigation. Advertisement Nearly $400 million in city contracts have been awarded to the vendor, Selfhelp, since 2008 according to records. Bronx mother Geraldine Jaramillo says her ACS-funded babysitter, 24-year-old La'keysha Jackson, was allegedly caught on video beating two of her young children, 4 and 6, nearly 60 times inside the family's Morrisania building on May 6, according to the family and a filed legal notice. 8 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 Advertisement City officials appear to still have no clue where Jackson is — nearly a month after Jaramillo shared graphic footage with police of the alleged abuse. 8 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 Jackson was the second sitter sent to the family after the first Selfhelp employee was discovered boozing and smoking at a playground while watching the kids, according to the legal filing. DOI spokesperson Dian Struzzi told The Post that 'while DOI intends to conduct an investigation,' their access to caregiver records and involvement with children 'may be precluded by State law,' an issue thoroughly laid out by Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber in an opinion essay published last week. Advertisement 'These access limitations can thwart our investigations,' Struzzi said. 8 A still from a graphic video showing Jackson beating the two young children a total of 58 times. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz 8 Jackson also allegedly donned grotesque costumes to frighten the children while the single mom was at work. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz 'The safety and well-being of New York City's children is our top priority,' said ACS spokesperson Marisa Kaufman, 'and we are investigating these despicable actions.' The state Office of Children and Family Services, the office that regulates ACS, and city hall officials did not respond to questions prior to publication. Advertisement Questions remain as to why Jackson wasn't apprehended immediately, with police only commenting that she remains at large, despite having the graphic five-minute-long video for nearly a month. 8 'We called the police and filed the report and we went to the hospital,' Jaramillo told The Post. 'They promised to arrest her and it's been three — almost four — weeks and nothing has happened yet.' Stephen Yang A neighbor near Jackson's listed address told The Post this week that they hadn't seen her in about a week, but her family had been living there for years. 'I'm just telling you from the bottom of my heart — very surprising video,' the neighbor told a reporter from The Post. 'The girl is very sweet. All she does is religion, school, work, and that's it — it's a very surprising video.' The longtime neighbor also doubts that Jackson donned the horrifying demonic Santa outfit, claiming 'that's not how her body is built,' and 'they don't celebrate Christmas.' 8 The Nest camera that captured the May 6 beating, plus many others later found on its storage, the family said. Stephen Yang Jackson was fired after Selfhelp learned of the video, according to the nonprofit, who said they are cooperating with investigations by ACS and the NYPD. Since 2008, Selfhelp has been awarded $393.2 million in city contracts, with $83 million in active contracts, the comptroller's office said. Advertisement Their relationship with ACS stretches back to 2009, with a total of $92.2 million in contracts for Homemaker services — the same service utilized by Jarmillo — records show, with an active contract for $19.3 million that runs until Dec. 2026. 8 The contractor who employed the babysitter, Selfhelp, has a long relationship with ACS beginning in 2009, with a total of $92.2 million in contracts for Homemaker services. William Farrington Selfhelp was founded in 1936 to aid refugees from Nazi Germany, their website states. Around 5,000 Holocaust survivors are still receiving services from them in 2024. The non-profit has $250 million in assets, a 2024 audited financial statement states, and serves over 26,000 seniors. Advertisement CEO Stuart Kaplan earned $1.1 million in annual compensation in 2022, according to their most recent tax filing. 8 La'keysha Jackson was considered a member of the family for the year she worked with them through a taxpayer-funded program. Courtesy Daniel Szalkiewicz
News18
3 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.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police search for nanny accused of violently assaulting 3 children in the Bronx
BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — The NYPD's Bronx Child Abuse squad is actively searching for a nanny accused of violently assaulting three children in her care. According to the family, NYC's Administration of Children Services (ACS) and Selfhelp assigned La'Keysha Jackson to care for the children aged 6, 4 and 2. More Local News On May 7, the children's grandparents, using a Nest security camera, allegedly witnessed Jackson physically abusing the two eldest children by striking them with a belt 58 times. PIX11 News has also reviewed the same video, which shows a woman hitting the children with a leather strap on the body. A short clip of that video, which goes on for about four more minutes, is shown in the video player above. The children's mother, Geraldine Jaramillo, a domestic violence survivor, was referred to ACS by the district attorney's office for supportive services while she was pregnant with her third child. ACS enrolled her in the Family Home Care program and assigned homemakers from Selfhelp Community Services, Inc., a provider certified and paid for by ACS, according to the family's attorney. Problems began when their first assigned homemaker was observed smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol while supervising the children. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State In May 2024, ACS and Selfhelp assigned Jackson as the new nanny, according to the family. Further review of additional camera footage revealed more incidents of abuse against all three children, including the 2-year-old being slammed into a bed, and other physical and verbal abuse. Upon reviewing the video, NYPD detectives were assigned to the case. A spokesperson for the Bronx District Attorney's Office told PIX11 News that a warrant had been issued for Jackson's arrest on Monday, only after PIX11 got involved on Friday. According to the family, the children experienced significant physical injuries, such as bruised buttocks, and emotional trauma, including fear, aggression, regression, bedwetting, and discomfort with undressing. They are filing a Notice of Claim with the city and ACS on Monday. An ACS spokesperson told PIX11News, 'The safety and well-being of New York City's children is our top priority, and we hold our contracted providers to the highest professional standards. We are taking these despicable actions very seriously, and we have commenced a review of the contracted provider's procedures. The provider terminated the employee and, with the NYPD, we are investigating this incident.' Selfhelp did not immediately respond to PIX11 News' request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
