Police have arrested a woman in connection with the death of a 6-month-old girl at her daycare in Vermont, according to news reports.
Police arrested Vaillancourt on Monday, March 18, in connection with a case from Jan. 24.
In January, police responded to a 911 call at Vaillancourt's in-home daycare in Rutland around 3:15 p.m. They arrived to find 6-month-old Harper Rose Briar unresponsive.
The infant was rushed to Rutland Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.
The autopsy determined that the cause of the infant's death was an overdose from diphenhydramine intoxication. The death was ruled a homicide.
Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in Benadryl. It is not to be used on infants without an order from a physician, the autopsy noted. Investigators determined that no physician had ordered diphenhydramine for Briar, and that Vaillancourt was her only caregiver in the lead up to her death.
Jan 24 was the third day Briar attended Vaillancourt's daycare.
"Harper Rose quickly gained the title of 'Perfect Princess,' her beautiful smile made everyone instantly fall in love with her," it said. "Our Perfect Princess was perfect in every way. Harper Rose taught her parents the true meaning of unconditional love and happiness."
On March 18, Vaillancourt was charged with manslaughter and cruelty to a child.
According to the report, Vaillancourt's lawyer did not comment. While Vaillancourt pleaded not guilty, about 40 people in the courtroom wore pink "Justice for Harper Rose" T-shirts.
Benadryl Overdoses
Last year, an operator of a daycare in Connecticut was sentenced to 30 months in prison after a 4-month-old child died of a Benadryl overdose.Caridllo operated an unlicensed daycare center for over a decade, police said. Adam Seagull, the 4-month-old toddler, died there. His death was ruled a homicide after toxicology tests showed that he died of an overdose of Benadryl.
"We don’t believe that she intentionally meant to kill our son, but at the end of the day, she did," mother Michelle Seagull said in court, reported ABC7. "And if she feels pain or sadness, then I’m glad. Because she is the reason that we’re missing a member of our family for the rest of our lives."
Meanwhile, Cardillo said, "I am very sad this happened to a beautiful little boy, but this has also caused great havoc in my family," according to the Post.
Cardillo's words did not appease the toddler's parents, who said, "She has presented herself as a victim of this ordeal when the real victim was our son Adam," Matthew Seagull told the judge. "She is an evil person … Adam was only in her daycare for 11 days. She has sentenced us to a life without Adam."
"This evil woman has made a mockery out of our misery and loss," she also said, according to the Post. "I was assured by her he would be cared for and safe. Adam, you made your mommy so proud," she added.