KINGSTON, Mass. — A Massachusetts daycare owner accused of physically abusing toddlers in her care turned herself in Friday, shortly after Kingston police publicly asked for help locating her.

Karen Rezendes, 51, was wanted on an arrest warrant related to allegations of assault and battery involving children at Oh Nana’s Daycare on Cole Street in Kingston.

Police said their investigation began about three weeks ago after authorities received information about potential abuse at the in-home daycare.

Investigators subsequently uncovered allegations involving several children whose ages ranged from 1 to 4 years old.

Kingston Police Lt. Michael Skowyra said the investigation revealed disturbing incidents involving children who were supposed to be under Rezendes’ care.

Police Describe Alleged Abuse at Daycare

According to police, investigators found evidence that children were allegedly subjected to multiple forms of physical abuse.

Authorities said the allegations include locking a child in an attic, hitting a child with kitchen tools, shoving children and other physical acts.

The investigation also involved video evidence that police say captured several alleged incidents inside the daycare.

“Slamming children to the ground, slamming children on counters, allegedly locking a child in the attic,” Skowyra said while describing what investigators saw.

One child who attended the daycare also spoke with investigators about an alleged incident.

According to authorities, the child told police, “she hitted me and she threw me,” describing an incident that was allegedly forceful enough to result in “bad blood.”

The statements became part of an investigation that included interviews, video evidence and other information gathered by detectives.

Videos Helped Investigators Build Case

Court records obtained by NBC10 Boston indicate that Rezendes’ husband sent a series of videos from inside the daycare to authorities.

Police said those videos showed multiple alleged instances of abuse involving children.

The investigation was carried out with assistance from the Children’s Advocacy Center at the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Massachusetts’ Department of Children and Families and Department of Early Education and Care also conducted their own investigations.

Those investigations resulted in Oh Nana’s Daycare losing its license, according to authorities.

The allegations have left parents and neighbors questioning how the reported conduct could have taken place at a facility entrusted with caring for young children.

Neighbor Says She Had Concerns

One neighbor, who did not want to be identified or appear on camera, said she had concerns about Rezendes before the allegations became public.

“Just through the years, just her behavior, everything. She’s just not a good person,” the neighbor said.

The neighbor also said she was surprised the allegations had eventually surfaced but did not express sympathy for Rezendes.

Another concern raised by police is that there could be additional children who experienced abuse but have not yet been identified as victims.

Authorities are therefore encouraging parents to carefully consider anything their children may have previously said or any unexplained injuries they may have noticed.

Police Ask More Parents to Come Forward

Kingston police are specifically asking parents whose children attended Oh Nana’s Daycare and who have not yet spoken with investigators to contact them if they now suspect abuse.

Police said parents should consider whether their children previously made allegations that initially seemed unlikely or whether they came home with injuries that were attributed to innocent causes but may have been witnessed by the defendant.

Detective Zachary Francis is handling additional information from families. Parents can contact him through the Kingston Police Department.

Meanwhile, Rezendes’ attorney offered little comment outside court.

“At this time, as I say, we have no comment,” the attorney said. “We’re going to respect the process.”

Rezendes now faces the legal process surrounding the allegations, while investigators continue working to determine the full scope of what may have happened at the daycare.

Parents whose children attended the daycare are being urged to speak with police if they have information that could help investigators.