Daycare Teachers Charged With Drugging Kids

Three teachers at a daycare center in Des Plaines, Illinois have been arrested after authorities say they were giving drugs to the young children in their care. According to Fox 32, the three women fed the kids gummy bears laced with melatonin to help them fall asleep. 

Kristen M. Lauletta, Jessica Heyse, and Ashley Helfenbein were each charged with two counts of endangering the life or health of a child and two counts of battery. Police said there could be additional charges and that the Department of Children and Family Services has launched an investigation. 

Authorities said they were tipped off by a co-worker who had concerns that the teachers were potentially harming the children, some who were only two-years-old.

NBC Chicago reports the three teachers did not believe giving the children melatonin was an issue because it is available over the counter. Police did not know how long the teachers have been drugging the children but pointed out that nobody was harmed as a result. 

"We spoke with every single parent that had a child in the day care, and only one could recall their child being groggy after being picked up."

Police said that the management of the daycare center helped police during their investigation. The three teachers are due in court on April 4th. 

Photo: Des Plaines Police