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Maggie Fruit, 21, of Somerdale, was charged with attempted murder and child endangerment for assaulting two one-year-old children on July 15 at the Forever Young Daycare in Lindenwold, Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer said.
Further investigation found Fruit abused six other children in her care, and was charged with nine counts of aggravated assault, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and four counts criminal restraint, Mayer said alongside Lindenwold Borough Police Chief Michael P. McCarthy.
Fruit had been working at the daycare center for a short time as the lead teacher in charge of a classroom of one-year-old children when police were called to the center around 1:40 p.m. July 15, Mayer said.
Bystanders rescued the child during the incident at the facility on the on the 600 block of Chews Landing Road, and the baby was hospitalized for treatment of unknown injuries, authorities said.
Surveillance footage showed Fruit abusing another 1-year-old in the same classroom 30 minutes before the original incident, police said. That child did not require treatment, authorities said.
Fruit was arrested on the new charges and was lodged at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
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