Daycare Worker Accused of ‘Intentionally’ Tearing Off ‘Handful’ of 1-Year-Old’s Hair, Leaving 6cm of Scalp Exposed

A daycare worker in Kentucky is under arrest after she allegedly admitted to pulling a toddler’s hair and “removing a substantial amount of hair from the child’s head,” local authorities say. 

Kesha Cochran, 24, was arrested following the incident at a Leitchfield, Ky., daycare on Tuesday, March 11, the Leitchfield Police Department said in a statement. (Court records identify her as Keshia Cochran).

Police began investigating after they received a report about a 1-year-old child who had been injured at the daycare, eventually determining that the injury was of a “suspicious nature,” per the statement.

Surveillance footage from the facility showed Cochran was overseeing a group of small children when she approached the child, a 1-year-old who has not been named by police, and — seemingly unprompted — pulled the child’s hair. 

The victim “began screaming uncontrollably,” police said. Investigation revealed the child had a bald spot of over 6 centimeters on their scalp. 

After tearing away the child’s hair, the video showed, Cochran appeared to throw what police believe is a “handful of hair” in the trash. 

During her interview, Cochran admitted to “intentionally” harming the child, having pulled a “substantial amount of hair from the child’s head,” per police statement. 

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Cochran has been charged with first degree criminal abuse, according to court records, which did not indicate plea or attorney information.

She was set to be arraigned on Thursday, online records show.

The investigation is ongoing.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.