South Fayette daycare closes indefinitely after charges filed against 2 employees

SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Tots Spot Daycare in South Fayette Township is closed indefinitely, their summer camp abruptly shut down as well, after two employees were charged with felony aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and conspiracy.

The charges come after a grandparent brought audio evidence of abuse to the township police department.

Police charged The Tots Spot Director, Kelli Verdu, and employee, Heather Habovick, saying they were caught on audio targeting a girl who is under four years old.

The girl’s grandmother told police she became concerned after finding pinch marks on the child’s arm, and the girl said they referred to her as “big fat baby”.

The grandparent hid an audio recording device in the child’s bookbag, which the grandparent told police captured “eight hours of pure torture”.

Police released some of those details in the criminal complaint.

Director, Kelli Verdu, can allegedly be heard telling the toddler “Your mother doesn’t want you because you do not (EXPLETIVE) listen. If she wanted you, she wouldn’t have sent you here, and she told me that she doesn’t love you.”

As well as repeatedly telling the girl to sit in a blue chair for long periods at a time.

The audio reportedly captured Heather telling the girl twice she was going to strangle her. And after the little girl is heard screaming and crying, the complaint said Heather says “A spider bit you. That was a spider that bit you. Did it bite you?”

Heather also reportedly is hearing saying to take the girl outside alone and then telling her if she lets go she will fall backward. There’s a thud and the girl cries out.

Verdu was arraigned Friday morning and released on bond. Heather has not yet been arraigned.

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