ST CHARLES ILLINOIS, a daycare teacher is facing criminal charges after allegedly giving toddlers chewable laxatives and telling them the medication was candy, according to police.
Yizel J. Juarez, 23, of Sycamore, was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted aggravated battery causing bodily harm to a victim under the age of 13 and three counts of endangering the life or health of a child. All charges are misdemeanors, authorities said.
Police said the alleged incident occurred at The Learning Experience daycare center in St. Charles. According to the St. Charles Police Department, officers were contacted Tuesday around 9:45 a.m. after multiple parents reported that their children had been given chewable laxatives by one of their daycare teachers.
Investigators confirmed the incident had taken place and said each of the affected children was two years old or younger. Juarez was identified as the suspect, and after consultation with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, formal charges were filed.
Police said Juarez later turned herself in and was released from custody.
Authorities believe Juarez was a recent hire and may have been administering the laxatives since starting her job in August of last year.
Several parents raised concerns after noticing ongoing health issues in their children. One mother said her toddler had been experiencing diarrhea for nearly two months, and multiple doctor visits and formula changes failed to resolve the issue.
“We thought it could have been a virus, and that was negative,” the mother told WBBM. “We found out from the director that she had fired her employee because she allegedly was giving them these laxatives and saying that it was candy so that they could get sent home because she was overwhelmed.”
The mother added, “It’s disgusting. Get another job then.”
Juarez has since been terminated from her position at the daycare center and is scheduled to appear in court as the case proceeds.
