Key Takeaways
- A lawsuit filed in Woodward County, Oklahoma, alleges that Boomer Kids Club, which operated a daycare and after-school program, failed to protect two young children from repeated sexual and physical abuse by former daycare teacher Tyler Kniest.
- Kniest pleaded guilty to eight counts of lewd or indecent acts involving children under twelve and 16 counts of child abuse. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2025.
- The lawsuit alleges that daycare employees were made aware of sexual abuse but failed to immediately remove Kniest from the classroom or report
A lawsuit filed on June 4, 2026, in Woodward County, Oklahoma, alleges that Boomer Kids Club failed to protect young children from repeated sexual and physical abuse by convicted former daycare teacher Tyler Kniest.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of two children who were just two and three years old when they were abused at the daycare in November and December 2023.
The lawsuit alleges that employees of the daycare were aware that Kniest was engaging in concerning behaviors in the classroom, yet failed to address it in any way and, in fact, covered for Kniest.
Andreozzi + Foote serves as counsel for the victims.
What Does The Lawsuit Allege?
Boomer Kids Club operated a daycare and after-school program at 1901 15th Street in Woodward, Oklahoma. According to the suit, Boomer voluntarily ceased operations on March 15, 2024. It has been asked to close by the Department of Human Services in 2024 after a DHS inspection and criminal investigation into Kniest.
According to the lawsuit, former daycare teacher Tyler Kniest used his role to sexually and physically abuse ten children under the age of five, including the two plaintiffs.
According to the lawsuit, in November and December 2023, one of the plaintiffs, also a student of Kniest, was two years old at the time of the abuse.
While under Boomer and Kniest’s care, the victim suffered extreme physical abuse, including but not limited to strangulation, kicks to the head, being slammed, shoved, and punched violently, and having her sleeping mat being ripped from under her. Further, the suit alleges that Kniest sexually abused the child during naptime. As a result, Kniest was charged and pled guilty to one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 and five counts of child abuse.
According to the suit, the other plaintiff, who was three years old, suffered repeated physical abuse, including being hit, kicked, slammed to the ground, forcibly held down on her sleeping mat, and tightly wrapped in a blanket. As a result, Kniest was charged and pled guilty to two counts of child abuse in connection with this victim.
Both children were later identified as victims in surveillance footage obtained during the criminal investigation, according to the lawsuit.
How Was The Abuse Discovered?
According to the complaint, in December 2023, a four-year-old child disclosed to her parents that Kniest had touched her inappropriately.
The parents reportedly notified a daycare administrator, who allegedly informed them that Kniest had admitted to the abuse. Kniest was arrested that same day for the assault of the four-year-old.
Following his arrest, the Woodward Police Department executed a search warrant at Boomer Kids Club and obtained classroom surveillance footage.
According to the suit, although every classroom had an operational camera, footage was retained for only one month.
Within that limited period, investigators reportedly identified:
- 93 incidents requiring formal identification of children.
- Eight instances of child sexual abuse.
- 16 instances of physical abuse.
According to the suit, the footage documented Kniest physically and sexually abusing children, including the plaintiffs. Additionally, Kniest’s DNAwas found in the trash cans of the classroom, according to the suit.
Tyler Kniest Sentenced to Life in Prison
On February 27, 2025, Tyler Kniest pleaded guilty to eight counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child under twelve and 16 counts of child abuse, according to the lawsuit.
On March 3, 2025, Kniest was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a requirement that he serve 85% of his sentence, followed by 25 years of probation upon release.
Lawsuit Alleges Boomer Kids Club Covered for Kniest
The criminal conviction established Kniest’s responsibility for the offenses to which he pleaded guilty. However, this civil lawsuit seeks to address the alleged failures of the daycare and specific employees responsible for supervising and protecting the children.
The lawsuit alleges that daycare employees were aware of concerning behavior by Kniest but failed to intervene and covered for his conduct.
Mother Allegedly Raised Concerns About Her Child’s Bruises
According to the complaint, one of the victim’s mothers repeatedly questioned a daycare administrator after noticing bruises on her daughter.
The administrator allegedly acted like she was unaware of the source of the injury, or had an excuse for the bruises, such as a fall on the playground.
Classroom Windows Allegedly Covered Despite DHS Warnings
The lawsuit also alleges that Kniest’s classroom windows were consistently covered.
According to the complaint, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) had directed Boomer Kids Club on multiple occasions to remove the coverings.
Supervisors Allegedly Failed to Monitor Classrooms and Report Abuse Allegations
The lawsuit also alleges that daycare supervisors and/or the owners of Boomer did not conduct routine checks or monitor the cameras.
The complaint further alleges that they failed to immediately remove Kniest from the classroom or contact law enforcement after learning of sexual abuse allegations.
According to the suit, as a result of these failures, the children suffered injury.
What Legal Claims Are Being Made Against Boomer Kids Club?
The lawsuit seeks to hold Boomer Kids Club and other defendants accountable for their alleged failure to protect children from sexual and physical abuse of children at the daycare.
The complaint asserts claims of negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, and negligent, grossly negligent, and reckless hiring, retention, and supervision against Boomer Kids Club.
Additional claims include intentional infliction of emotional distress against Kniest and two daycare employees, as well as assault and battery against Kniest.
The plaintiffs allege that the daycare failed to implement adequate child abuse prevention policies, properly screen and supervise those with access to minors, including Kniest, recognize that Kniest was a child abuser, and report Kniest to authorities.
Can a Daycare Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse by an Employee?
Daycare facilities are entrusted with the safety and well-being of young children.
When a daycare employee sexually or physically abuses a child, civil liability may extend to the daycare operator.
In cases involving sexual or physical abuse at daycare facilities, several factors may help determine whether the institution bears civil liability:
- Whether the daycare knew or should have known about the risk of abuse.
- Whether complaints, warning signs, or suspected abuse were properly investigated and addressed.
- Whether adequate supervision, monitoring, and child protection policies were in place.
- Whether employees received appropriate training to recognize and report suspected abuse.
- Whether the daycare took prompt action to protect children after learning of potential abuse.
- Whether reasonable precautions could have prevented the abuse.
Was Your Child a Victim of Tyler Kniest?
If your child attended Boomer Kids Club or had Tyler Kniest as a teacher, and you suspect they may have experienced sexual or physical abuse, we encourage you to contact our attorneys today. You are not alone. Help is available.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families, investigating the conduct of perpetrators and the institutions that may have enabled their abuse.
We offer free, confidential consultations to help families understand their rights and explore potential civil legal options.
All consultations are free and confidential.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image source: Tyler Kniest, courtesy of KFOR, via Woodward County Sheriff’s Office.
