Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of three former day care employees – EVELYN VARGAS, 47, and two coworkers – for allegedly abusing and criminally mistreating multiple toddlers at the Bright Horizons Columbus Circle location. The defendants – including LATIA TOWNES, 24, and SHAKIA HENLEY, 37 – are all charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with multiple counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. VARGAS is additionally charged with Assault and Strangulation in the Second Degree, and four counts of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree. TOWNES is also charged with three counts of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree.[1]
“As alleged, these day care workers abused and criminally mistreated multiple toddlers, no older than 24 months,” said District Attorney Bragg. “My office’s Child Abuse Bureau is dedicated to protecting our youngest New Yorkers and is here to help them. Concerned parents or guardians should call us at 212-335-4300.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, from September 2023 through February 20, 2025, VARGAS subjected at least 9 toddlers aged 12 months to 24 months to ongoing physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. In one instance, VARGAS allegedly placed packing tape across a toddler’s face from ear to ear, covering her mouth and preventing her from breathing until it was ripped off, leaving red marks. VARGAS allegedly dragged toddlers by their arms multiple times, and on three occasions, dragged a toddler by the hair between rooms. VARGAS repeatedly pushed and shoved toddlers to the ground and hit them in their heads with metal bottles. On separate occasions, she allegedly threw a cup across the room at a toddler, force fed two toddler concentrated ginger shots, and stuffed tissue inside the mouth of a crying toddler. She also allegedly kept toddlers restrained in chairs for extended periods of time.
Further according to court documents, from August 2024 through February 20, 2025, TOWNES allegedly abused at least 5 toddlers, including repeatedly pushing and shoving toddlers to the ground, hitting them in their heads with metal bottles, and keeping them restrained in chairs for extended periods of time. TOWNES also allegedly verbally abused the toddlers by engaging in name-calling and laughing when they were in distress.
Finally, from January 29, 2024, to February 20, 2025, HENLEY allegedly sprayed at least two toddlers in the face with cleaning supplies, including soap and bleach mixed with water, and kept toddlers restrained in chairs for extended periods of time.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Child Abuse Bureau is investigating these allegations and has specially trained professionals who can speak to children and their families in a child-friendly setting. Any parent or guardian who has concerns about their child, especially infants and toddlers who attended this day care, should call 212-335-4300.
Assistant D.A. Christopher Charnetsky is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Chloe Kendall and Samantha LiTrenta (Deputy Chiefs of the Child Abuse Bureau) and Heather Buchanan (Chief of the Child Abuse Bureau), and Executive Assistant D.A. Justin McNabney (Chief of the Special Victims Division).
Defendant Information
EVELYN VARGAS
Bronx, NY
Charged:
- Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts
- Strangulation in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
- Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a class E felony, 4 counts
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, 9 counts
LATIA TOWNES
Bronx, NY
Charged:
- Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a class E felony, 3 counts
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, 5 counts
SHAKIA HENLEY
Bronx, NY
Charged:
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, 4 counts
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.