Charges have been filed against the owner and three employees of a Manchester, New Hampshire daycare for allegedly spiking children's food with melatonin, as per Manchester police statements. Sally Dreckmann, 52, the daycare proprietor, and her workforce, Traci Innie, 51, Kaitlin Filardo, 23, and Jessica Foster, 23, are each facing 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child following accusations of surreptitiously adding the sleep aid to kids' meals without parental consent.
Authorities began probing the in-home daycare at 316 Armory Street after concerns about safety surfaced in November of 2023, the investigation leading to the recent arrests, NBC Boston reports. It was uncovered that the children had been fed melatonin-spiked food, inducing drowsiness; these actions were done without parents being the wiser, according to WCVB. Melatonin, although available over the counter and typically deemed safe for short-term use, can cause side effects such as headache, dizziness, and nausea. The Mayo Clinic underscores the importance of use in appropriate context, particularly stressing caution with children.
Each accused has followed a different path following the charges. Dreckmann posted $400 cash bail and will be arraigned on June 10, while Innie and Foster were released on personal recognizance bail with their court dates set for June 6, NBC Boston reported. Details concerning Filardo’s bail and court date were not immediately available at the time of reporting.
Alarmingly, a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted a 600% increase in the number of children and teens who have been reported to poison control centers for melatonin ingestion over the past decade; these findings only deepen the gravity of the charges faced by the daycare operators, NBC Boston includes. As families in Manchester, reeling from the disturbing revelations seek justice, further details are yet to emerge—Boston 25 News urges the public to stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
