Ex-daycare manager accused of giving melatonin to children

GREENFIELD, Indiana (AP) — A former daycare manager in suburban Indianapolis faces multiple charges after he was accused of giving children melatonin gummies to put them to sleep without their parents’ consent.

Tonya Rachelle Voris, 52, of Fortville faces 11 counts of neglect of a loved one and six counts of reckless supervision by a childcare worker.

Voris formerly ran the Kidz Life childcare service at New Life Church in Cumberland, court records say.

Pastor David Faulk told Cumberland Police Department he learned that Voris and another employee gave 17 children, ages 1 to 4, melatonin gummies without their parents’ consent from mid-December to late January, court documents said.

Faulk told police he fired Voris after she admitted giving melatonin gummies to some of the children. Faulk said the other worker is still employed at the daycare.

Several parents told police their children were experiencing problems, including trouble sleeping and skin rashes.

Jail records show Voris was booked into the Hancock County Jail on Monday and released on bail. A phone message was left with her lawyer on Tuesday evening asking for comment on the allegations against her.