A Las Vegas teacher accused of “body-slamming” a toddler into a cot has accepted a plea deal following her arrest on child abuse charges last year.
Eryka Westover, also known as Eryka Slizeski, 33, was arrested on May 17, 2024, on charges of child abuse while working as a lead teacher at Shenker Academy. On January 18, 2025, she pleaded no contest to contributing to the delinquency or negligence of a minor, accepting the conviction without admitting guilt. As part of the deal, Westover was ordered to stay out of trouble, enter anger management counseling, and is prohibited from working at any daycare or babysitting position.
The arrest followed a report from a mother who brought her daughter to LVMPD’s Summerlin Area Command on April 1, 2024. According to the arrest report, class assistants informed the mother that Westover had “body-slammed” her daughter during naptime. Surveillance footage from February 5, 2024, showed the child swaddled tightly, with Westover visibly frustrated. The video captured Westover angrily shaking the child and, although the body slam wasn’t clearly visible due to the camera falling, the audio caught her saying, “Yes, I just body-slammed you, you’re fine. Go to bed,” as the child cried.
Swaddling was not an approved technique at Shenker Academy, which follows strict guidelines using the “Love and Logic” approach to handle behavioral issues, according to the arrest report. Investigators also found that Westover allegedly resorted to slapping, hitting, and pinching children when they misbehaved.
Classroom assistants reported noticing Westover being rough with students and receiving complaints from children about her behavior. One assistant, who had worked with Westover for three years, said this group of students was particularly difficult, and Westover seemed to target them.
When questioned by police, Westover admitted to being frustrated during the incident and claimed she didn’t recall saying “Yes, I body-slammed you.” She stated she felt the child was a good kid and didn’t deserve what happened to her, but acknowledged her tone of voice wasn’t appropriate.
This case has drawn significant attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about child care safety and the importance of proper oversight in educational settings.
