New Hampshire daycare worker spared jail after secretly dosing children with melatonin

A New Hampshire court sentenced Sally Dreckmann, a 53-year-old former in-home daycare provider, to a suspended prison term after she pleaded guilty to falsifying physical evidence and reckless conduct in connection with secretly dosing children with melatonin.

Judge Amy Messer imposed a sentence that could reach seven years in prison, suspended on condition that Dreckmann complies with a list of prohibitions and obligations. She is barred from operating or working in any daycare and from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, except for family members. She must pay restitution, complete 100 hours of community service and have no contact with the victims or their families. The case dates back to November 2023, when Manchester police were alerted to unsafe practices at the Amory Street in-home daycare. Investigators found melatonin, an over-the-counter sleep aid, sprinkled into foods given to children. Authorities said no one became seriously ill, but the substance posed health risks.

Following the investigation, arrest warrants were issued in May 2024 for Dreckmann and three employees: Traci Innie, 51; Kaitlin Filardo, 23; and Jessica Foster, 23. All four were charged with 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Dreckmann was originally indicted on more than 30 charges, including child endangerment, assault and falsifying evidence. She accepted a plea deal that yielded the suspended sentence. Prosecutors described the case as revealing a dangerous enforcement gap in state law surrounding child welfare.

Prosecutor Shawn Sweeney told media outlets that endangering the welfare of a child is not always treated as a felony under current statutes, creating a loophole that can result in lighter penalties. A legislative effort to strengthen the statute was rejected by local lawmakers in May, raising questions about how the state disciplines those who secretly drug or endanger children in caregiving settings. Without changes to the law, officials said, lighter sentences may continue to occur.

Manchester police and the New Hampshire Judicial Branch declined to comment on the case beyond confirming court records. The decision has renewed debate among policymakers and advocates about whether the statute adequately protects children in non-traditional caregiving environments and whether penalties should reflect the potential health risks posed by substances like melatonin when administered without consent.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between investigative findings, judicial outcomes and legislative action in child welfare enforcement. As communities weigh reforms, prosecutors and police say they will continue pursuing charges appropriate to the level of risk and harm discovered in similar incidents, even as some advocates push for clearer, harsher penalties for those who endanger minors in care.