Camden County Daycare Worker Facing 21 Additional Charges

A daycare worker from Somerdale, Camden County, who is already facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly abusing a 1-year-old child, is now facing nearly two dozen more charges.

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill Mayer and Lindenwold Police Chief Michael McCarthy say 21-year-old Maggie Fruit had been working at the Forever Young Daycare center on Chews Landing Road. On July 15th, cops were called to the center after a child's mother said she witnessed him being abused by Fruit. Authorities say they reviewed surveillance video and as a result, Fruit was charged with first-degree attempted murder and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for assaulting two one-year-old children that day.

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As detectives continued their investigation, they observed six more children that were allegedly abused by Fruit while under her care at the center, according to Mayer's office.

As such, additional charges were filed, including nine counts of aggravated assault, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and four counts of criminal restraint.

Fruit, who had been released on pre-trial monitoring, was arrested on the new charges and lodged at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact the Camden County Prosecutor's Office at (856) 225-8493.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.