Police Ask For Help in Daycare Abuse Investigation

Determining whether a young child has been a sex assault victim at the hands of an adult is sometimes difficult to know.

, investigators are instructing parents to ask non-leading questions if they think their child may be a victim.

Scott police Sgt. Jeffrey Skees said it is important for parents to open up to their children without planting ideas into their head.

“Were there any times that made them feel uncomfortable at the daycare?” Skees said is a good starting question. “Different parents have different approaches. You don’t want to put an idea into a child’s head. But was there anything that made them feel uncomfortable? Talk to them about good touches and bad touches.”

Matthew Byars, 25, of the North Side, was charged with fondling another boy three years ago at South Park and his residence. Allegheny County Police filed the charges over the weekend, bringing the number of alleged victims to five.

Skees said parents who suspect their child may have been abused should call Scott police at 412-276-7725, or contact Allegheny County Police at 412-473-1200. Where the alleged abuse takes place determines which police agency is involved in the investigation.

“If somebody thinks their child (was abused), the way to ask is if they were ever made to feel uncomfortable,” Skees said. “If they don’t get a straight response, they need to look further into it an give us a call.”

He said the police interview will help determine if abuse occurred and where. Skees said he is not surprised that the investigation into Byars, a former employee at Tender Care in Scott Township, has turned up multiple allegations in numerous jurisdictions.  while Byars worked at the daycare beginning in 2007.

“When you have an allegation against someone like that at a daycare, I wasn’t surprised it sort of opened up the floodgates,” Skees said.

 That investigation revealed the assaults may have also occurred at , leading to three other victims at the daycare center to come forward.

Byars is currently being held at Allegheny County Jail awaiting a preliminary hearing in August.