In a shocking revelation, four daycare workers in Manchester, New Hampshire, have been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of children. The charges stem from allegations that the workers had been secretly adding melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, to the children's food without the knowledge or consent of the parents.
The accused include the daycare owner, Sally Dreckmann, 52, and her employees Traci Innie, 51, Kaitlin Filardo, 23, and Jessica Foster, 23. All four turned themselves into the police and are facing 10 counts each of endangering the welfare of a child.
The Manchester Police Department initiated an investigation into the daycare, located at 316 Amory Street, in November 2023 following a report of "unsafe practices." The investigation revealed that the children's food was being sprinkled with melatonin, a hormone that plays a role in the sleep-wake cycle.
While melatonin is generally safe for short-term use and is often used to treat sleep disorders, it is not without potential side effects. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, children under the age of three should never take melatonin, and if they ingest too much, they can experience drowsiness, vomiting, and headaches.
Heather Hamel, a spokesperson for the Manchester Police Department, expressed concern over the incident, stating, "Not having got permission from the parents, not knowing the medical history or the reaction that this child could have, having this in their system, it’s concerning. It could be an allergic reaction, it could be much worse."
The daycare's neighbors were surprised to learn about the allegations. Gary Boucher, a local resident, said, "If it was my child I’d be extremely upset. Obviously they’re doing that to knock the kids out, but that’s something that shouldn’t be done at all period."
The state's Department of Health and Human Services has yet to respond to inquiries about whether the daycare will be shut down. The four daycare workers are expected to be arraigned at a later date. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
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