Ontario woman faces more charges of poisoning babies, children By By Arthur Weinreb Oct 19, 2013 in Crime Kitchener - The former operator of an unlicensed Kitchener, Ontario daycare centre has been charged with poisoning children and an adult. She was charged in July after it was alleged she poisoned two children. The 32-year-old now faces a total of nine counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and nine counts of administering a noxious substance. It is alleged Allen administered an over-the-counter eye care product to the eight children and a 32-year-old woman. The product contains the drug Tetrahydrozoline. Speaking about Tetrahydrozoline, Alana Holtom, a spokeswoman for the Waterloo police, The children ranged in age from one day old to six years. The alleged poisonings were carried out over a period of several years. The investigation began in March when a child Allen was living with was brought to a hospital. It was later discovered another child being cared for at Allen's daycare was taken to hospital in July 2010, suffering from the same symptoms. Further investigation turned up six more child victims and the 32-year-old woman who is the mother of one of the children Allen had been caring for. Documents filed in a 2011 In the family court proceeding, Allen wrote, "My medical problems do not interfere with my ability to take care of children. I comply with the treatment and medication prescribed by my doctor." Her former husband filed a document stating she did not always take her medication and at times was "out of control." Allen has been in custody since she was initially charged in July. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 1. Yesterday, Waterloo Regional Police Service announced new charges against Christine Allen. The Kitchener woman faces new charges in the alleged poisoning of six children and one adult. These charges are in addition to those laid in July that involved the poisoning of two children.The 32-year-old now faces a total of nine counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and nine counts of administering a noxious substance.It is alleged Allen administered an over-the-counter eye care product to the eight children and a 32-year-old woman. The product contains the drug Tetrahydrozoline. Speaking about Tetrahydrozoline, Alana Holtom, a spokeswoman for the Waterloo police, said , "It can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, low blood pressure, respiratory difficulties and a decreased heart rate and this is especially true for young children. The victims have recovered to a certain extent, but certainly their illnesses at the time were significant."The children ranged in age from one day old to six years. The alleged poisonings were carried out over a period of several years.The investigation began in March when a child Allen was living with was brought to a hospital. It was later discovered another child being cared for at Allen's daycare was taken to hospital in July 2010, suffering from the same symptoms. Further investigation turned up six more child victims and the 32-year-old woman who is the mother of one of the children Allen had been caring for.Documents filed in a 2011 family court proceeding show Allen suffered from mental problems. She was hospitalized in a Guelph psychiatric facility in 1999 and 2000 and eventually lost custody of her three children. She was under the care of a psychiatrist who treated her for anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.In the family court proceeding, Allen wrote, "My medical problems do not interfere with my ability to take care of children. I comply with the treatment and medication prescribed by my doctor."Her former husband filed a document stating she did not always take her medication and at times was "out of control."Allen has been in custody since she was initially charged in July. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 1. More about christine allen, unlicensed daycare centres, poisoning children, administering a noxious substance, criminal negligence causing bodily harm More news from christine allen unlicensed daycare c... poisoning children administering a noxi... criminal negligence ...