Two childcare workers arrested for taunting, abusing autistic boy in Snapchat video

Two women were arrested on Friday for reportedly taunting and abusing an 8-year-old autistic boy as he hid under a table at Florida daycare center. One of the suspects recorded the disturbing incident and posted it on Snapchat.

Fox News reports authorities arrested Kaderrica Smith, 26, and Alexus Henderson, 20. Both worked at Our Children’s Academy in Winter Haven. The pair was working when they allegedly posted a Snapchat video of themselves calling a little boy names, tripping him, and throwing a backpack at him. Police issued a warrant for their arrest after numerous people sent in complaints about the video. The suspects turned themselves in a day after authorities issued the warrants.

Reportedly, Henderson held her cellphone and recorded Smith taunting the young boy by chanting “chicken, chicken, chicken” when he hid under a table in the daycare room and refused to come out. As the boy sat under the table, Smith threw a backpack at him.

ORIGINAL Story: SEE IT: Video of Florida daycare workers taunting, berating autistic boy as he cries

When he emerged from his hiding spot, clearly upset from the name-calling, the boy angrily ran towards the daycare workers. Smith tripped him with a “leg sweep,” making him fall on his back. The boy started crying while Henderson, still holding her phone and recording the incident, started laughing and chanting “bawk bawk bawk,” apparently emulating the sounds a chicken makes.

“The child was challenging, but they were acting worse than the child,” said Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird.

The daycare center fired both suspects after learning of the incident.

According to the Washington Post, the little boy has both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that children with ODD show an “ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster’s day to day functioning.”

The suspects told authorities they didn’t think they did anything wrong. It’s unclear if they had any previous training working with children with special needs.

Authorities charged Smith with child abuse and battery, while Henderson was charged with child neglect. Henderson has since made bond, but Smith is being held without bond.

[Feature Photo: Winter Haven Police Department]