A daycare teacher in Illinois has been arrested after being accused of giving laxatives to the children at the center where she worked.
Multiple parents called police to report that their children had allegedly been given a chewable laxative by a daycare teacher at The Learning Experience in St. Charles, Illinois, on Tuesday, February 3, around 9:43 a.m., according to the St. Charles Police Department.
Police investigated the reports and “confirmed the incidents had occurred and identified three juvenile victims, each of whom is two years of age or younger,” according to a statement obtained by People.
Yizel J. Juarez was then arrested and charged with three counts of attempted aggravated battery causing bodily harm to a victim under 13 and three counts of endangering the life or health of a child. All of the charges she’s facing are misdemeanors.
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Police said that Juarez turned herself into the St. Charles Police Department. She was then arrested and given a court date before she was released from custody.
It is not currently clear if Juarez has entered a plea or retained legal representation following her arrest.
Police are asking that anyone with information regarding the incident contact the St. Charles Police Department’s Investigations Division at (630) 377-4435.
The St. Charles Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding Juarez’s arrest.
Following Juarez’s arrest, several parents at the daycare said they were upset by the incident.
“My child is still suffering from constipation, which the doctor said was going to be a side effect of the laxatives, of coming off the laxatives,” one parent told CBS News. “Who knows what the long-term effects could be on this?”
The parent explained that her 17-month-old child has been going to The Learning Experience since the summer of 2025, which was around the same time that Juarez was hired.
She added that her toddler was sent home from daycare at least three times over the course of two months after they had diarrhea.
“We thought it could have been a virus, and that was negative, but he was not diagnosed with any stomach bug or anything either,” she said of her child’s health issues.
The mother also reflected on learning that Juarez was fired. “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 be sent home, because she was overwhelmed,” she said. “It’s disgusting. Get another job then.”
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Meanwhile, the child’s father said he has “no words” about the experience. “It’s just thinking that your kid is going to be safe in the daycare, and you come and find surprises like this,” he said. “It’s sad. It’s devastating.”
Laxatives are often given to kids and adults to relieve constipation. However, laxatives have side effects that may harm children or make them physically uncomfortable.
According to Begin Health, laxatives can cause children to experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, electrolyte imbalance, dehydration and dependence issues.
“It’s essential for parents to discuss the risks of laxatives with their healthcare provider and to monitor their little ones closely for any adverse reactions,” the website added.
