Daycare Worker Accused of Drugging Children
A daycare worker is facing serious accusations of administering laxatives to multiple children in her care, prompting parents to label the incident as “catastrophic.”
Izel J. Juarez, age 23, allegedly told the children the chewable laxatives were candy due to feeling “overwhelmed.” This incident took place at a daycare center in Illinois, which has a policy of sending sick children home, requiring a 24-hour absence before they can return.
A mother, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that her infant had been experiencing ongoing stomach issues without any clear explanation. “I thought it might be a virus, but it turned out to be negative,” she told a news outlet. Her child, only 17 months old, had been enrolled at the daycare since the summer of 2025, when Juarez started working there.
After weeks of seeking medical answers, which included changing the child’s formula, the parents were left frustrated and concerned. Eventually, local police were notified after receiving multiple reports from parents, leading them to confirm their worst fears.
“My child still suffers from constipation. The doctor mentioned this is a side effect of coming off the laxatives,” she explained, expressing uncertainty about the long-term effects. The anguish was palpable when she added, “I don’t like that. Get another job.”
Juarez eventually turned herself into local law enforcement and faces three counts of attempted aggravated assault against a victim under 13, as well as three counts of endangering the life or health of a child, according to authorities.
Police have identified three victims, all of whom are under the age of two. A father of one of the children articulated the profound emotional toll this has taken on families: “I have no words. You think your child is safe at daycare, only to discover something like this. It’s incredibly sad and shocking.”
Juarez, who studied early childhood education at Northern Illinois University, has since been terminated from her position at The Learning Experience Daycare Center. She has been released after a court date. Authorities are encouraging anyone with further information about the situation to come forward.
