(Wilmington, DE 19803) Detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police have charged 22-year-old Samantha Diaz of Wilmington with multiple felonies in reference to child abuse at a daycare facility. On Thursday, February 1, 2024, officers responded to Nemours Children’s Hospital in reference to an abuse investigation. The investigation revealed that parents of the victim received a call from the child’s daycare, Educational Enrichment Center in Wilmington, Delaware. Staff at the daycare reported that the victim woke up from her nap and had suspicious injuries on her face. The staff alerted the parents about the injuries at which time the parents transported the victim to Nemours. It was reported by medical staff that the victim had sustained multiple physical injuries to her face. The child was treated and later released and is expected to make a full recovery.
The investigation was then assigned to the Division’s Special Victims Unit. Detectives responded to the daycare and assumed the investigation. A daycare employee, Samantha Diaz, was identified as the suspect. She was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters. Following a thorough investigation, Diaz was charged with one felony count of suffocation and one felony count of child abuse in the second degree. Diaz was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and held in lieu of $70,000 cash bail.
Diaz was employed at multiple daycare facilities and there is a concern there may be additional victims. If you have any information regarding this case or another incident, please contact Detective Donovan at (302) 395-2781 or email at Matthew.donovan@newcastlede.gov
Tips can also be forwarded to:
- New Castle County Division of Police non-emergency number at (302) 573-2800
- Criminal Investigations Unit at (302) 395-8110
- Online through Facebook (IM) “New Castle County Police”
- Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333
- Online at http://www.delawarecrimestoppers.com
Tips can be submitted anonymously.
Diaz, Samantha (22)
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