Indian Mound, Tennessee: The Stewart County Sheriff's Office announced that four individuals had been arrested after an investigation into Mimi's Daycare was launched on March 25 following a complaint from a parent.
Those individuals, including the owner, have been charged after investigators found reason to believe that about 27 children were given melatonin since the daycare opened about three years ago. Investigators believe that there may have been more children involved and they are still looking into the matter.
A post announcing the arrests has been removed from the Stewart County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. According to Paulette Redman, the media relations coordinator, some of the comments made were found to have been "possibly hindering the investigation."
Investigators are asking that anyone who had a child attend the day care, or anyone that believes they have information on the case, contact the Stewart's County Sheriff's Office at (931) 232-6863.
At this time, they believe that children between the ages of infant and six years old were given about double the average dose in order to make them sleep longer.
WKRN reports that a search warrant was executed at the daycare on April 28, 2022. The facility has been closed since May 2 when it surrendered its license, and on May 5, the arrests were made.
The owner, 45-year-old Jamie Clark has been charged with child abuse and neglect, contributing to the delinquency a minor, fabricating or tampering with evidence, and criminal violations.
Her daughter, 20-year-old Kristin Clark was charged with fabricating or tampering with evidence, child abuse and neglect, and criminal violations.
22-year-old Jordan Darnell has been charged with child abuse and neglect, fabricating or tampering with evidence and criminal violations.
The bond for the three women was set at $60,000 and they remain in custody at this time.
20-year-old Ethan Pulley was also arrested on a charge of fabricating or tampering with evidence. His bond was set at $10,000. He remains in custody.
According to Investigator Danna Saltkill, parents complained that "When they would pick them (their children) up, they would sleep all the way home and sometimes reports of children staying up most of the night, so their sleeping habits are off."
A now former employee of the daycare, Candace Short said, "I quit my job and started working at the daycare. I witnessed them giving melatonin to the children." Short described feeling "devastation" over seeing what was happening.
She is one of the ones credited with starting the investigation.