In a chilling case that has rattled families and sparked public outrage, a New York City babysitter entrusted with the care of three young children was captured on CCTV committing horrific acts of abuse. The viral footage, which has since been widely circulated online and reported by the New York Post, shows 24-year-old Lakeysha Jackson using a belt to repeatedly beat the children in her care.
This disturbing incident has raised serious concerns about child welfare oversight and the role of city-funded childcare programs. The babysitter, who worked for a single mother through a city contractor supported by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), is now at the center of a growing controversy over accountability, negligence, and the safety of vulnerable children in public care systems.
A Trust Betrayed: Abuse Hidden Behind Closed Doors
The horror began to unfold when Geraldine Jaramillo, a single mother residing in the Bronx, entrusted Jackson with the care of her three sons—aged two, four, and six. Lakeysha Jackson was hired through a contractor backed by ACS, a city agency tasked with assisting low-income families by providing subsidized childcare services. Jaramillo, like many parents struggling with economic hardships, relied on this government-supported help to manage her household and ensure her children’s wellbeing.
The arrangement seemed to be a blessing until May 6, when the children’s grandmother, who lives in Pennsylvania, decided to check in on the family through a bedroom security camera. What she saw left her horrified: Jackson, far from nurturing or protecting the children, was inflicting unimaginable abuse.
The camera footage allegedly showed Jackson striking the two older children nearly 60 times with a belt. The terrified boys cried and tried to shield themselves from the blows, only to be restrained by the babysitter, who gripped their tiny arms as she continued the assault.
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The alleged abuse didn’t stop at physical violence. The babysitter also used psychological tactics to terrify the children. According to Ms. Jaramillo, Jackson dressed up in a Santa Claus costume and wore a grotesque Halloween mask from the horror film “Terrifier II” in a calculated attempt to frighten the young boys. The costume, which Jackson had found in Jaramillo’s home, became a tool for emotional abuse, further traumatizing the children who were already enduring physical violence.
La’keysha Jackson de 24 años, comenzó a trabajar para Geraldine Jaramillo, una madre del Bronx, hace un año a través de un contratista pagado por la Administración de Servicios Infantiles de la ciudad, que proporciona niñeras a familias con dificultades para ayudar con el cuidado pic.twitter.com/G4HrdXcPmY
— PrimeraLinea (@Primera_NY) June 3, 2025
It was a moment of pure betrayal for Jaramillo, who had welcomed Jackson into her home and trusted her with the most precious part of her life—her children. Speaking to the media, she revealed the emotional turmoil she faced after discovering the footage, saying, “We went to the hospital, called the police, and filed the report.” Her immediate reaction was that of any mother—protect her children, seek justice, and demand accountability.
Institutional Failure: A System That Turned Against the Victim
What followed the report of abuse was equally shocking. Despite the graphic and undeniable evidence captured on video, Lakeysha Jackson was not immediately arrested. The family filed a complaint with both ACS and the NYPD, believing the proof of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse would be enough to lead to charges. Yet, as of the latest reports, Jackson remains free, and law enforcement has not taken her into custody.
To compound the injustice, the mother claims that ACS, after viewing the damning footage, chose not to act against Jackson but instead turned their investigation onto Jaramillo herself. The stated reason was the lack of official paperwork from the hospital visit made on the day of the incident. This bureaucratic technicality has left Jaramillo not only battling the trauma her children endured but also fending off institutional scrutiny at a time when she needed support.
Jaramillo’s lawyer has since filed a formal notice of claim, signaling the intent to sue Jackson for the abusive conduct and possibly extend legal action to cover failures by ACS. The incident has raised important questions about how such a deeply flawed system could permit this situation to happen and fail to act decisively even after clear evidence emerged.
The Administration for Children’s Services has a critical role in protecting children from exactly this kind of harm. Yet, instead of safeguarding Jaramillo’s children, the system seems to have compounded their trauma. While ACS did conduct a follow-up home visit and issued an apology, the mother remains under investigation—an outcome that many observers have criticized as a clear case of victim-blaming and systemic failure.
The Call for Justice and Reform
The case of Lakeysha Jackson has become a lightning rod for discussions about child welfare, systemic accountability, and the effectiveness of programs meant to serve low-income families. In theory, the city’s support programs, including those managed by ACS, are intended to ensure that all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, receive adequate care in safe environments. However, this incident has revealed glaring gaps in oversight and raised questions about how childcare workers are vetted, trained, and monitored.
Moreover, the psychological damage inflicted on the children may be long-lasting. Studies show that physical abuse, particularly in early childhood, has profound effects on brain development, emotional regulation, and social behavior. The children’s exposure to not just physical punishment but also fear-based tactics like the horror-themed costume can have traumatic consequences. These are wounds that may not be visible but can alter the course of a child’s development forever.
Public outrage continues to build as details of the case emerge. Many are calling for immediate action against Jackson, as well as broader investigations into how ACS contractors are selected and supervised. There is also growing demand for accountability from the police, who have yet to detain Jackson despite the serious nature of the allegations.
Jaramillo, meanwhile, is doing her best to cope with the aftermath. Her priority remains the wellbeing of her children, who are now safe but deeply scarred. She hopes that by coming forward, she can prevent this kind of abuse from happening to other families. “I trusted her. I thought she was helping me,” she said. “Now my kids have nightmares. They’re scared to be alone. They’re scared of Santa Claus. That’s not something I ever imagined would happen in my home.”
As the legal process unfolds and more light is shed on the incident, this case may serve as a catalyst for overdue reforms in the city’s childcare system. Parents like Jaramillo should not have to live in fear that those assigned to help them could instead bring harm into their homes.
For now, the public is watching, waiting for justice to be served—for the children who endured the unspeakable and the mother who is fighting to protect them against a system that let them down.