A home daycare in South Bend remained open, and its business registration was still active, even though its operator faces felony charges, according to WNDU's report[1]. WNDU also reported that the state of Indiana is investigating the daycare.
The operator is accused of encouraging an older child to fight younger children in her care in June 2026 instead of stopping the incident. The charges include neglect of a dependent and battery involving a child under 14.
The operator pleaded not guilty, and the next hearing was set for November 5, according to WNDU and 95.3 MNC[2]. The charges are accusations, and the operator is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The case remains ongoing.
What parents should do next
If you believe your child was hurt at a daycare or in a babysitting arrangement, have the child checked by a doctor and keep copies of the medical records. Write down dates, what your child said, and who was present. Save any photos, videos, messages, and other material that may help document what happened. This guide explains more about preserving evidence for an Indiana injury claim.
You can also check whether the provider is licensed or registered with the state and whether it carries liability insurance. Parents may report concerns about a child care provider to state licensing officials. Be careful about signing documents from an insurance company before you understand your options.
Why location matters in an Indiana injury claim
This case is in South Bend, in St. Joseph County, where the charges were filed and South Bend police investigated. A civil case would usually be filed in the county where the injury happened or where a defendant lives or does business.
Child care providers are generally expected to supervise children with reasonable care. When the injured person is a child, Ind. Code 34-11-6-1 can extend the time to file, while the usual deadline for injury claims is two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Indiana divides fault among those involved under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. A police report or criminal charge does not by itself determine civil responsibility.
Because deadlines and evidence issues can depend on the circumstances, parents may want to review the matter with a Fort Wayne child accident attorney.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps Indiana families when a child is hurt because of someone else's carelessness. Chad Delventhal can explain how Indiana injury claims involving children work, identify deadlines that may apply, and help preserve important records. No outcome can be promised in any case.
The firm offers a free case evaluation for families who want to discuss their options.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation and court case may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
Update: State orders emergency daycare closure, October 29, 2026
Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration ordered the South Bend home daycare to close on an emergency basis on October 28, according to reports from ABC57[3] and 95.3 MNC[4].
ABC57 reported that the state's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning received a complaint about the daycare on October 13 and learned of the operator's arrest on October 23. The state alleges that the operator watched a recorded incident in which two children were harmed without intervening or reporting it.
The original facts above remain accurate. The charges are accusations, the operator is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the criminal case and state investigation may still be ongoing.
