MANCHESTER, N.H. — Four people are facing charges after an investigation found melatonin in children's food without their parents' knowledge in Manchester, New Hampshire.
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Manchester Police say the owner and three employees of a home day care have turned themselves in following an investigation into suspected unsafe conduct at the home day care in November 2023.
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An investigation found that the children's meals at the nursery school had been “sprinkled with melatonin,” but the children's parents did not know or consent, police said.
“It's concerning that we don't have the parents' permission, we don't know the medical history or what kind of reaction this child might have, and this is in the body, so it could be an allergic reaction, and we don't know. It could get worse,” Heather said. According to WFXT, Hamel, a public information officer for the Manchester Police Department, said:
The owner was identified as Sally Dreckman, 52, police said. Tracy Inney, 51, Caitlin Filardo, 23, and Jessica Foster, 23, were identified as the employees, the news outlet reported. All four were charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
“If it was my child, I would be very upset,” said Gary Boucher, who lives near the home day care center, according to WFXT. “Obviously they're doing it to stun children, but that's not something you should do at any time.”