NJ daycare closes, child abuse accusations against caregivers

UPDATE: In January after a full jury trial, Cecilia Ruiz-Perez was acquitted of all charges.

A Vineland daycare center has shut down after workers were arrested and accused of child abuse.

The women, who ranged in age from 20 to 48, face allegations of force-feeding children, pulling and bending their fingers, hitting them in their heads and other forms of assault at Vineland Infant Toddler Center in August, as reported by Vineland Daily Journal, citing complaints and affidavits.

Charges were filed on Oct. 14, 2022 by the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office against the following:

— Martha Gil, of Vineland

— Emmaliz Torres, of Millville

— Marcia Green, of Fairfield Township

— Allison Willis, of Shiloh Borough

— Cecilia Ruiz-Perez, of Bridgeton

The center provided care for very young children, from newborn through three years old, according to an online listing with the city.

Shortly after the charges were filed, the center was listed on Google as permanently closed.

At least one young victim was developmentally disabled, as reported by NJ.com.

The same report said that the incidents were captured on surveillance camera footage in the center.

Stemming from interactions with five different toddlers, Gil and Torres each were charged with five counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child as well as five counts of fourth-degree cruelty/neglect.

Green was initially charged with four counts each of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and cruelty and neglect of children, as well as three counts of fourth-degree endangering another person.

Willis faced three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, three counts of fourth-degree cruelty/neglect and two counts of fourth-degree endangering another person.

Ruiz-Perez had faced second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree cruelty/neglect, stemming from allegations involving one child. She was acquitted of all charges after a trial in January.

In 2024, Gil and Torres were each sentenced to three years probation, after being found guilty of lesser charges.

Green ultimately received two years probation and Willis was sentenced to one year probation.

Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

25 costliest hurricanes of all time

Although the full extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ian in the Southwest is still being realized, Ian is already being called one of the costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. Stacker took a look at NOAA data to extrapolate the costliest U.S. hurricanes of all time.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

New Jersey's Most Terrifying Serial Killers

New Jersey Nightmares - Notorious Serial Killers

Gallery Credit: Eric Scott

States with the most registered hunters

Stacker analyzed data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which states have the most registered hunters. Read on to see how your state ranks on Stacker’s list.