An Illinois daycare teacher has been charged after police say she gave laxatives to several toddlers under her care, prompting alarmed parents to contact authorities.
According to a statement from the St. Charles Police Department, officers were called to a daycare facility on West Main Street in St. Charles around 9:43 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Multiple parents reported that their children had allegedly been given a chewable laxative by one of the teachers.
Police said their investigation confirmed the incidents had occurred and identified three juvenile victims, all of whom were two years old or younger.
The teacher, Yizel J. Juarez, 23, of Sycamore, was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted aggravated battery causing bodily harm to a victim under 13, as well as three misdemeanor counts of endangering the life or health of a child, authorities said.
Juarez later turned herself in at the police department, where she was processed and released from custody pending a court appearance. Police did not say what may have motivated the alleged actions, and it remains unclear whether Juarez has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf.
The daycare center involved has not been publicly identified by police, and authorities have not released additional details about the condition of the children beyond confirming their ages.
Police are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the St. Charles Police Department’s Investigations Division at 630-377-4435 as the investigation continues.
