Two women in Georgia have been arrested after being accused of giving young children Benadryl and melatonin to help them sleep during nap times at their daycare.
Stacie Fuller Young, 51, ran a daycare service out of her home in Gainesville, Georgia, about 55 miles northeast of Atlanta. She worked alongside her daughter-in-law, 35-year-old Ptiery Verby-Sunshine Edge. Trouble began when one parent started noticing something unusual about their child in October 2024. The child was acting strangely—often tired, sluggish, and unusually cranky. Concerned, the parent decided to dig deeper.
By December, blood tests on two children revealed something shocking: high levels of Benadryl, a common allergy medicine, and melatonin, a sleep aid. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office shared that a local pediatrician performed the bloodwork after the parent voiced concerns. Spokesperson B.J. Williams explained, “The bloodwork showed elevated levels of both melatonin and Benadryl. The Benadryl levels were described as high.” This led investigators to uncover that Young and Edge had allegedly been giving these medications to the children daily while they were in their care.
The children, who had been attending the daycare since November 2023, started showing these changes in behavior nearly a year later. It’s important to note that while the medication levels were high, they weren’t considered toxic. However, the fact that these substances were being given without the parents’ consent was enough to alarm everyone involved.
Adding to the issue, officials discovered that Stacie Young was not licensed to care for more than two children at a time. On January 7, after the Department of Early Care and Learning began its investigation, she was issued a cease-and-desist order. That investigation is still ongoing.
Young and Edge were arrested on January 13 and charged with four misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct. They posted $5,200 bail and were released the same day.
Parents in the Gainesville community are understandably shaken, and this case has raised serious concerns about trust and safety in childcare. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with similar concerns to come forward.
