Day care worker force fed babies, nearly suffocated some, Florida police say
Babies cared for at a Florida day care were subjected to a series of abuses, including “forced feeding” and “near suffocation,” according to police.
An investigation into the allegations at All Stars Learning Academy in Ocala “uncovered multiple incidents spanning from March 2025 to July 2025, involving alleged mistreatment,” the Ocala Police Department said in a July 15 news release.
Six babies are involved, ranging in age from 4 months to 9 months, officials said.
“Several instances of physical harm to the children were alleged, including rough handling, forced feeding, violent shaking, and near suffocation,” police said.
“A video recording provided by an employee depicted one such incident with an infant, corroborating the claims. ... Our hearts go out to these little babies and their families as we continue investigating.”
McClatchy News reached out to All Stars Learning Academy officials for comment July 16 and was awaiting a response.
Supervisors at the day care had been informed of the incidents, police say, “but no appropriate action was taken to address the allegations in a timely manner.” Details were not released on how and when supervisors were told of the allegations.
The investigation resulted in day care employee Karla L. Penalverty-Gonzalez, 33, being arrested, officials said. She joined the staff in July 2024, police said.
She faces eight felony counts of child abuse without great bodily harm and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest, jail records show.
“The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been informed and will require remedial training for the day care’s staff,” officials said. “This investigation is ongoing as detectives review how the management responded to these complaints.”
Ocala is about a 100-mile drive northeast from Tampa.
This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Day care worker force fed babies, nearly suffocated some, Florida police say."