MANCHESTER, N.H. (TND) — A group of caretakers are accused of giving children melatonin without the consent of their parents.
The owner of a New Hampshire in-home daycare, Sally Dreckmann, was arrested on child endangerment charges.
Dreckmann's arrest comes after a lengthy investigation after Manchester police detectives got a tip in November 2023 about "unsafe practices going on" at the daycare at 316 Amory Street.
Investigators discovered that the food made for children at the daycare was being sprinkled with melatonin, according to authorities.
Melatonin is used for sleep. "This is an over-the-counter drug that can be given as a sleep aid, but for it to be given to children without the knowledge or consent of the parents, it’s very concerning," Heather Hamel, Manchester Police Department spokesperson told WHDH.
Hamel told the local media outlet that melatonin was used on the food that children were served at lunch.
The 52-year-old daycare owner and three of her employees turned themselves in on Thursday after arrest warrants were issued.
The Manchester police spokesperson told The National Desk that this case is still active.
It's unknown how much melatonin was used and how long the suspects had been using melatonin on the children.
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