Day care provider convicted of causing infant’s death with antihistamine sentenced to 3 to 10 years

RUTLAND, Vt.– A Vermont daycare worker convicted of manslaughter in the death of a baby she cared for in her home was sentenced Tuesday to three to 10 years in prison.

Stacey Vaillancourt was accused of drugging Harper Rose Briar with an antihistamine in 2019. The six-month-old baby became unresponsive while in Vaillancourt’s care, and an autopsy revealed she had high levels of diphenhydramine, the sedative ingredient in some over-the-counter medications. antihistamines including the Benadryl brand. The drug is not recommended for babies without a doctor’s order, and no such order existed for Harper.

During the trial, Vaillancourt’s attorney said there was no evidence Vaillancourt sedated the child, but the prosecutor told jurors that no one else could have done it. Vaillancourt denied giving the child anything that was not provided by her parents.

A jury convicted the former childcare organization in December of manslaughter and child abuse.

A telephone message was left with Vaillancourt’s lawyer seeking comment on the verdict.