She spent most of her time on video calls with the inmate, periodically hitting and insulting the children in her care, Indiana officials say.

The deputy noticed troubling behavior while monitoring a video call between an inmate and Smith, and the Gary Police Department began investigating, the affidavit said.

A day care teacher is accused of abusing children, hitting, threatening and insulting them in the classroom while on video calls with a jail inmate, Indiana police say.