Parents seek justice as Sweet Angels Daycare employee faces charges of endangering welfare of child

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Parents in North Tonawanda are seeking justice after they said their children were abused at Sweet Angels Daycare on Erie Avenue. Last week, a 20-year-old employee of the daycare was arrested and now faces charges.

Following a criminal investigation, North Tonawanda police arrested Savanna Huntington, the daughter of Sweet Angels owner Kelly Doel, and charged her with multiple charges of endangering the welfare of a child.

“Once I got the CPS letter, and then, it’s just like a lightbulb went off,” said Jasmine Atlikhani, whose son attended Sweet Angels.

Atlikhani said it was at that moment she knew something had happened to her 5-year-old son, Elijah.

A complaint filed on May 2 shows that the Office of Children and Family Services issued the facility a series of violations. One of the violations states the use of corporal punishment, meaning “punishment inflicted directly on the body including but not limited to, physical restraint, spanking, biting, shaking, slapping, twisting or squeezing.”

“He changed into a different kid,” Atlikhani said. “We’re still going through some of the stuff.”

Sweet Angels closed its North Tonawanda location on May 10 following a criminal investigation.

“My son was there for two years. I thought it was a really nice place,” Atlikhani said. “When you walked in, people were nice to your face too. I never expected this to ever happen to me or anyone I knew. It doesn’t feel real.”

It’s not the first time Sweet Angels Daycare was in the spotlight. Several of its employees in the since-closed daycare in Newfane were arrested and charged in September 2023 with endangering the welfare of a child.

“I thought that I was the problem, but I’m not the problem,” said Kathy Chenez-Stefanko. “They’re the problem and how many other mothers and parents out here think that it’s their fault?”

“I refuse to feel like a failed parent and I refuse to allow any parent that is a part of this to feel like a failed parent,” said Mallory Bumpers Wojewoda. “We were given voices, we’re going to use them. Our children will get justice one way or another.”

Doel is due back in court on Oct. 3.

“Lo and behold here it is. They released the press release through North Tonawanda Police Department and it’s the daughter of the owner,” Wojewoda said. “It’s just, it’s sad and frustrating too.”

“I’m happy she was arrested and that everything is going to start kicking into high gear and that our children are going to get the justice they deserve,” Atlikhani said.

The North Tonawanda location has since been sold to a different daycare facility.

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.