Texas Day Care Worker Pleads Guilty to Abusing Toddlers Over 130 Times at Punkin’ Doodles Day Care

By Ronald Rodriguez Last updated Sep 19, 2025

Lindale, TX – A horrifying case of child abuse has come to light in Lindale, Texas, where a 45-year-old day care worker, Catherine Guziejka, has pleaded guilty to abusing toddlers more than 130 times over several months. The disturbing assaults occurred at the Punkin’ Doodles Day Care, and the sentencing for Guziejka is scheduled for November 12, 2024.

This case has sent shockwaves through the local community and sparked an intense investigation that uncovered numerous instances of physical abuse targeting innocent 2-year-olds entrusted to the facility’s care.

Details of the Abuse Uncovered Through Surveillance Footage

The investigation began in October 2024 when a staff member at Punkin’ Doodles reviewed security camera footage and witnessed Guziejka kicking a 2-year-old boy in the lower back. The employee promptly alerted the child’s father, who then contacted the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, leading to a formal report.

Further review of the footage revealed Guziejka had inflicted physical abuse on six different toddlers, tallying up to 134 separate assaults between July and October 2024. The patterns of abuse included:

Kicking children in the lower back while they were watching television
Standing on toddlers’ hands
Aggressively moving children during sleep
Dragging sleeping children by the arm to changing tables
Forcing children to stare at walls by holding their heads down during diaper changes

Response from the Day Care and Authorities

Melanie Dawn Law, the former owner of Punkin’ Doodles Day Care, confirmed in her police interview that Guziejka’s abuse had been ongoing since July, with at least 100 instances documented on video before Guziejka was terminated.

Guziejka initially joined the facility in September 2023 and was immediately fired once the footage was reviewed. All evidentiary footage was handed over to investigators, ensuring a thorough inquiry.

Following these events, Law has sold the day care to new ownership. The facility is set to reopen in December 2024 under a new name as part of efforts to restore community trust.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith expressed relief that none of the victims suffered serious injury, stating the physical harm ranged from minor to medium bruising. Sheriff Smith emphasized the importance of vigilance and applauded the swift response that helped bring the abuse to light.

“It is fortunate that none of the children were seriously injured by Guziejka,” said Sheriff Larry Smith. “The injuries have been limited to minor to medium bruising.”

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps

Guziejka pleaded guilty to six counts of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, according to court records. Her attorneys have requested a sentence of 10 years for each count, to be served concurrently. The upcoming sentencing hearing on November 12, 2024 will determine Guziejka’s punishment.

The extensive abuse documented in this case serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent oversight and regular monitoring in child care facilities.

Protecting Our Children: What Communities Can Learn

This tragic case underscores several key points for child care providers and communities:

The critical importance of monitoring security footage regularly to detect potential abuse immediately
Immediate reporting to authorities when abuse is suspected
Implementing strong background checks and training for day care personnel
Supporting victims and families affected by such abuse

For more details on the case, visit the original report by Law and Crime here.

What do you think about this disturbing abuse case? Have you ever trusted your child to a day care facility? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!