In a shocking incident, a New Hampshire day care owner and three employees have been arrested and charged with child endangerment. The accused individuals allegedly placed the sleep supplement melatonin in the lunches served to the children without obtaining parental consent or informing the parents.

The Manchester police have identified the day care owner as Sally Dreckmann, who operated the facility from a house located in West End. Along with Dreckmann, Tracie Innie, Kaitlin Filardo, and Jessica Foster, all employees at the day care, are facing 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child for their involvement in the incident.

According to Heather Hamel, a representative from the Manchester police, the sleep aid supplement, typically used as an over-the-counter sleep aid, was given to the children without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The police investigation was initiated following a tip received late last year from someone who had been inside the facility and heard about these practices. Additional anonymous tips were also provided through the crime line.

An unsettling revelation from the investigation revealed that the daycare was operating without a license, which was verified by both the police and state authorities. However, it should be noted that home-based daycares in New Hampshire are not required to have a license if they care for three children or fewer at a time.

Neighbors of the facility expressed surprise upon learning about the allegations, with some not even being aware that there was a day care operating next door. Gwyneth Clarkson, a neighbor, stated, "I didn't even know, I knew that the people that lived at the house next door but I didn't even know that there were kids at that house who were running a day care." Autumn Londo, whose boyfriend resides next door, found the whole situation deeply concerning and wondered why anyone would engage in such behavior.

Fortunately, no children who were allegedly given the sleep aid supplement required medical attention, according to the Manchester police. The four accused individuals turned themselves in and have been released pending their court appearance scheduled for next month.

This disturbing incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of children in daycare facilities. The authorities will undoubtedly be taking further action to ensure the protection of children under their care and to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.