Oklahoma Daycare Owner Accused of Brutal Abuse Against Toddlers

Oklahoma authorities have arrested Samantha Pearson, a 25-year-old woman who ran an unlicensed home daycare near Moore, Oklahoma. Pearson is accused of violently abusing two toddlers under her care on June 26, stuffing wet wipes into their mouths to stop them from crying and then physically assaulting one child.

According to the District 21 District Attorney's Office press release, surveillance footage captured Pearson forcibly inserting wet wipes into the children’s mouths multiple times as she changed their diapers. When one of the toddlers attempted to spit out the wipe, Pearson allegedly replaced it with another one. The video also shows Pearson grabbing a child who tried to crawl away and slamming them onto a changing table before open-hand slapping the same child.

The probable cause affidavit obtained by Oklahoma City ABC affiliate KOCO provides further details about the incident. While prosecutors referred to the victims as "infants," KOCO reported that the children were actually 3 and 4 years old, challenging the severity of the abuse described in the affidavit.

Pearson's daycare operation was unlicensed since 2025 according to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). The agency is currently investigating the incident. Pearson faces three counts of child abuse for her alleged actions.

Following her arrest, Pearson was booked into Moore County Jail on a $300,000 bond. A judge has also imposed strict conditions on her release, including mandatory GPS monitoring and prohibitions against consuming drugs or alcohol, as well as any contact with the victims or their families.

The case highlights serious concerns about unlicensed childcare operations and the potential for abuse when proper oversight is lacking. Pearson's preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 29, where she will face further legal proceedings regarding these allegations of severe child mistreatment.

This incident underscores the critical need for stringent regulation and enforcement in the daycare industry to protect vulnerable children from such abuses.