A former Pataskala daycare worker, Katelyn Strohacker, was sentenced on May 1, 2026, to 8 to 12 years in prison for the abuse of eight children under her care. Strohacker, 24, pleaded no contest to 31 criminal counts, including kidnapping and endangering children, following an investigation into her actions at Over the Rainbow Children’s Center. Surveillance footage from July and August 2025 revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse where Strohacker was seen shoving, yanking, and yelling at toddlers.
The most severe incidents involved Strohacker using painter’s tape to bind children. In one case, she taped a 1-year-old girl’s eyes, hands, and feet together before leaving her face-down under a blanket for nearly an hour. Other video evidence showed her intentionally shutting a 2-year-old’s finger in a cabinet door. During the emotional sentencing hearing, parents described the lasting psychological impact on their children, reporting that several now suffer from PTSD, night terrors, and severe separation anxiety.
While Strohacker’s attorney offered a brief apology on her behalf, she remained mostly silent during the proceedings. The judge’s sentence of 8 to 12 years also includes a period of post-release control ranging from two to five years. Despite the conviction, many families expressed that the sentence does not fully account for the lifelong trauma inflicted on their defenseless children. Civil lawsuits against the daycare center are currently being pursued by attorneys representing the affected families.