HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Hall County daycare owner and her employee are facing charges after authorities said they gave high levels of medicine to children in their care.
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On Dec. 18, 2024, a pediatrician contacted the Hall County Sheriff’s Office regarding legal advice. Officials said on Dec. 10, the doctor did bloodwork on two children at the request of a parent. The parent told the doctor they were concerned the children were “lethargic, irritable and slept more than usual.”
Authorities said the bloodwork showed the children had elevated levels of both melatonin and Benadryl in their bodies, with the Benadryl levels at what was described in the “high” range.
The children had attended Stacie Fuller Young, 51, daycare that was at her home on Odum Smallwood Road. The HCSO said Young’s daughter-in-law, Ptiery Verby-Sunshine Edge, 35, also worked at the daycare.
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Hall County officials said the children had attended Young’s daycare since Nov. 2023. The reported change in behavior started in Oct. 2024.
The investigation revealed the children received daily doses of each medication before naptime at the daycare.
Young and Edge were arrested and charged with four misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct. On Monday evening, they both posted a bond of $5,200.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Department of Early Childcare and Learning and they shared the following information:
- Young is not licensed and she cannot care for more than two children for pay without being licensed.
- DECAL’s investigation started on January 6, 2025, and continues today.
- Young was issued a cease and desist on January 7, 2025.
“DECAL strongly advises parents to verify the licensing status of any child care provider by visiting www.qualityrated.org or contacting the agency directly. We encourage anyone with information about unlicensed child care operations or concerns regarding child safety to report them by calling the agency at 404-656-5957 or emailing ccscomplaints@decal.ga.gov.”
- A DECAL spokesperson
Officials did not say if any other children were involved. Anyone with information that may be pertinent to the case is asked to contact Inv. Mefferd via email or call 770-533-7690.
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