Yizel Juarez, 23, a daycare worker in Chicago, Illinois, is accused of giving chewable laxatives to several young children. She reportedly felt "overwhelmed" by her job. Juarez allegedly gave the children the medication, falsely claiming it was candy, so they would be sent home. The daycare center's policy states that sick children must be sent home for at least 24 hours of care.
A mother reported her 17-month-old child experienced persistent stomach pain for weeks without explanation. The child had been attending the daycare since last summer, which was also when Yizel Juarez began working there.
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Preschool teacher Yizel Juarez admitted to giving children laxatives so parents would pick them up, reducing her workload. Photo: Fox |
The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, "We thought it might be a virus, but the tests came back negative."
For weeks, parents searched for answers. Doctors quickly ruled out numerous illnesses and infections. Many parents even changed their children's formula, but it appeared to have no effect.
Following numerous reports from parents, police initiated an investigation. During this time, children at the daycare unexpectedly developed widespread constipation. Doctors indicated this was a side effect of discontinuing laxative use.
Officials from the St. Charles City Police Department reported that the young teacher later surrendered at the local police station. Authorities charged her with intentional serious injury to a victim under 13 years of age and child endangerment.
Police subsequently identified three victims, all under two years old. The father of one child remarked, "I don't know what to say. You think your child will be safe at daycare, and then something unexpected like this happens. It's heartbreaking. It's terrible."
Yizel Juarez, who was studying early childhood education at Northern Illinois University, has been fired from The Learning Experience daycare center. Authorities are appealing to anyone with additional information to come forward.
By Hai Thu (Source: CBS, Daily Mirror)
