A California nanny hired through a supposedly vetted platform brutally abused a 22-month-old girl at a public park, exposing how families trusting big-tech childcare solutions are left vulnerable when background checks fail to screen out monsters.
Story Snapshot
- 41-year-old Suzanne Buhler arrested for felony child abuse after landscaper recorded her punching, slapping, and forcefully pushing toddler Paisley Tuttle down a slide at Lincoln park
- Buhler hired via Care.com despite passing annual background checks, raising urgent questions about platform vetting standards that leave children at risk
- Hero landscaper’s video evidence led to arrest; police seeking additional victims as Buhler advertised on multiple platforms
- Parents shocked by betrayal of trust as child sustained visible injuries but is now safe with family
Landscaper’s Heroism Exposes Brutal Abuse
On March 16, 2026, an unnamed landscaper working near Markham Ravine Park in Lincoln, California witnessed 41-year-old nanny Suzanne Buhler violently abusing 22-month-old Paisley Tuttle. The landscaper recorded video showing Buhler pushing the toddler down a slide with excessive force, punching her stomach, and slapping her face. Rather than looking away, the witness followed Buhler to the Tuttle family home and immediately contacted Lincoln Police Department. Officers arrested Buhler on felony child abuse charges that same day, booking her into Placer County Jail before she was released on bail.
Care.com Vetting Fails Another Family
Curtis Tuttle and his wife hired Buhler through Care.com, trusting the platform’s assurances about background checks and caregiver safety. The work-from-home parents believed they had taken responsible precautions to protect their daughter. Buhler had passed Care.com’s annual background checks with no prior incidents flagged on the platform. Yet those checks clearly failed to detect the violent tendencies that surfaced at the park. After Buhler’s arrest, Care.com closed her account and issued a statement claiming they are “deeply saddened” and “committed to safety,” but the damage to Paisley and her family was already done.
Parents Call for Other Victims to Come Forward
The Tuttle family told media outlets they were in “complete shock” after viewing the video evidence, with one parent describing being emotionally “scarred” by what Buhler did to their daughter. They praised the landscaper as their “baby savior” for documenting the abuse and tracking Buhler down. Paisley was examined at an emergency room and sustained visible facial marks from the assault, though doctors report no long-term physical trauma. Lincoln Police Department urged any other families who used Buhler’s services to contact them at 916-645-4047, noting she advertised on multiple childcare websites and apps beyond Care.com, raising concerns about additional unreported victims.
Platform Accountability and Parental Vigilance
This case exposes a troubling reality for families relying on gig-economy childcare platforms that prioritize convenience over comprehensive screening. Background checks reveal criminal history but cannot predict abusive behavior from those with clean records. Care.com has faced previous lawsuits over inadequate vetting procedures, yet continues marketing itself as a trusted solution for busy parents. Buhler’s arraignment is scheduled for April 27, 2026, as Placer County prosecutors review the case. One LPD spokesperson, speaking as a parent, expressed the “special kind of outrage” this abuse generates among those who understand the sacred trust violated when caregivers harm children. Families must recognize that no platform can substitute for constant vigilance and direct oversight of those entrusted with their most precious responsibility.
Find those landscapers!! Give them all of your business!! Heros on lawnmowers exist!!
Nanny Arrested After Landscaper Records Her Abusing Toddler at Park https://t.co/KxHYqPReYp via @crimeonlinenews
— Daisy (@hisdivinemess2) March 24, 2026
Investigation Continues for Additional Victims
Lincoln Police Department continues investigating whether Buhler abused other children while working as a nanny across multiple platforms in the Sacramento area. The department takes these allegations extremely seriously and is pursuing a thorough investigation beyond the March 16 incident. Detectives are reviewing Buhler’s work history and client list to identify potential victims whose parents may not have witnessed abuse. The availability of clear video evidence strengthens the prosecution’s case and may encourage other families to report suspicious injuries or behavioral changes they previously dismissed. Paisley Tuttle remains safe with her family as they process the trauma of discovering someone they trusted to nurture their daughter instead brutalized her at a neighborhood playground.
Sources:
CBS News Sacramento – Lincoln California nanny felony arrest child abuse
