INSIDE EDITION INVESTIGATION FINDS INSTANCES OF DAYCARE WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ALLEGEDLY DRUGGED CHILDREN WHILE IN THEIR CARE – AUTHORITIES SAY ONE EVEN RESULTED IN AN INFANT’S DEATH

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The daycare owner Stacey Vaillancourt was charged with manslaughter and child cruelty in connection with Harper Rose’s death. She has pleaded not guilty.  

New York, NY – Sept 18, 2023 – Cameras captured shocking behavior at a daycare in Nebraska – a caregiver was caught allegedly slipping Benadryl pills into baby bottles, and according to police, drugging each baby bottle. Cops say it wasn’t the only time she did that. In an investigation airing Monday, INSIDE EDITION found instances of daycare workers across the country who were arrested for allegedly dosing kids – and INSIDE EDITION’s Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero tracks down a former daycare owner who is currently awaiting trial to try and get some answers.

The case of the Nebraska daycare worker did not result in an arrest. Police chief Tim Donahue told INSIDE EDITION, “We had gotten a full confession out of her, a signed confession, however giving somebody something that’s over the counter, even being that they’re an infant, doesn’t fit the statutory requirements as a crime unfortunately.”

Police also say some daycare workers have slipped kids drugs to put them to sleep. But even seemingly harmless over-the-counter medication can be lethal for young kids.

Marissa Briar says she and her husband were in baby bliss with their firstborn, 6-month-old Harper Rose. But on her third day at a home daycare, Briar says their world was shattered with a single text message from a daycare worker. “Baby is sick, ambulance here. Go to hospital,” Briar tells INSIDE EDITION.

She and her mother Brenda rushed to the ER where doctors performed CPR, but it was too late. An autopsy revealed Harper Rose was given a lethal dose of allergy medication never meant for babies. “Marissa was just screaming; it was like this soul-wrenching scream. Those are the things I see and the things I think about every night when I close my eyes,” says Brenda.

Prosecutors charged daycare owner Stacey Vaillancourt with manslaughter and child cruelty. She pleaded not guilty.

Baby Harper isn’t the only child that Vaillancourt allegedly drugged inside her now shuttered daycare.

Melania Mcatee says she trusted Vaillancourt to look after her 8-month-old son. But after hearing the horrible news about Baby Harper, she had a certified lab test his hair for the same drug. She says it came back positive. “I was shocked, I felt like a failure of a mother,” Mcatee tells INSIDE EDITION.

Mcatee sued Vaillancourt, and that case was reportedly settled. Vaillancourt was not criminally charged in connection with what happened to Mcatee’s son, but four years later, she is still out and about awaiting trial in connection with Harper Rose’s death. Vaillancourt has pled not guilty and denies any wrongdoing.

INSIDE EDITION’s Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero caught up with her on her way to work.

“Did you drug baby Harper Rose at your daycare? She was 6 months old. What do you have to say to her family?” asked Guerrero.

Vaillancourt had nothing to say.

Briar says she relives losing her child every day. “Reliving that day over and over, it’s like you get a wound and it’s never going to fully heal, but it keeps getting ripped open even more,” says Briar.

For INSIDE EDITION’s full report, tune in on Monday, September 18th. Check local listings for times and stations in your area.   

 

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