Ashley Nicole Taris, Raleigh KinderCare Worker, Charged with Felony Child Abuse After Allegedly Breaking 4-Year-Old’s Leg

A former daycare worker in Raleigh, North Carolina, is facing felony charges after authorities say she broke a young child’s leg while attempting to place him in a “criss-cross applesauce” position during class.

Ashley Nicole Taris, 24, a former employee at a KinderCare daycare center, was arrested following a months-long investigation into the August 2025 incident. She has been charged with felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.

Child’s Leg Fractured During Classroom Incident

According to an arrest warrant, the incident occurred on August 22, 2025, at a KinderCare location on Mitchell Mill Road in Raleigh.

Investigators say the 4-year-old boy told authorities that his teacher, identified as Taris, injured him while pulling him into a seated “criss-cross applesauce” position. The child reported feeling immediate pain and said he was unable to walk afterward.

Authorities allege that Taris “aggressively” pulled the child by the leg, resulting in a fracture to his tibia.

Charges Upgraded After Investigation

Initially, Taris was issued a citation for misdemeanor child abuse shortly after the incident. However, following further investigation, the charges were upgraded, and she was arrested on April 7 on a felony child abuse charge.

Prosecutors stated during a recent court appearance that the child had already been seated appropriately at the time and did not require repositioning when the alleged incident occurred.

Employment Status and Safety Measures

KinderCare confirmed that Taris is no longer employed by the organization and has not worked at the facility since October 2025.

A company spokesperson said she was initially allowed to continue working under a safety plan. However, state licensing officials later ordered her removal from the classroom while the investigation was ongoing.

Case Ongoing

The case remains active as authorities continue legal proceedings. No additional details about court dates or further actions have been released.