The 53-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to a child

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THAT'S RIGHT STEPH AND BRIAN THE DAYCARE FACILITY HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN.. AN AUTOP REPORT FOUND THE INFANT DIED FROM HIGH CONCENTRATION S OF A DRUG NOT MEANT FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S OKAY... A SIX MONTH OLD BABY DIED WHILE IN THE CARE THIS RUTLAND WOMAN... TODAY - THAT DAY CARE OWNER WAS ARRESTED AND FACED A JUDGE... STACEY VAILLANCOURT PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND CRUELTY TO A CHILD ... THE INFANT'S FAMILY...FILLING THE COURTROOM. WEARING BABY PINK TEE SHIRTS IN MEMORY OF THE SIX MONTH OLD TAKEN UNEXPECTEDLY... THE STATE IS ALLEGING SHE ACTED WITH CRIMINAL NEGLIGANCE AND THAT CRIMINAL NEGLIJANCE CAUSED THE DEATH OF HARPER BRIAR... POLICE SAY HARPER BRIAR ATTENDED VAILLANCOURT'S HOME DAYCARE BACK IN JANUARY... ACCORDING TO COURT PAPERWORK -- THE 53 YEAR OLD SAYS SHE FOUND BRIAR LIFELESS AFTER PUTTING HER DOWN FOR A NAP... IT WAS ONLY THE CHILD'S SECOND DAY AT T NORTH STREET FACILITY... THE STATE'S EVIDENCE IS THAT AS THE DAYCARE PROVIDER T THE BABY THAT SHE GAVE THE BABY DIPHENHYDRAM NE AND THAT CAUSED HER DEATH... VAILLANCOURT MADE NO MENTION OF DOING THAT TO POLICE. BUT AN AUTOPSY DID DETECT THE SEDATING INGREDIENT...FO UND IN OVER THE COUNTER COLD MEDICINES... POLICE SAY A DOCTOR DIDN'T SIGN OFF ON ADMINISTERING THE DRUG TO BRIAR... THE CHILD'S FAMILY OPTED NOT TO SPEAK WITH NBC FIVE TODAY FOLLOWING THE ARRAIGNMENT... VAILLANCOURT WAS RELEASED ON 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS UNSECURED BOND..SHE'S DUE BACK IN COURT NEXT MONTH...REPORTI NG FROM THE LIVE DESK A NORTHERN NEW YORK MURDER CASE GETTING

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Advertisement Caregiver charged in connection with 6-month-old's day care death The 53-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to a child Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A caregiver has been charged in connection with a 6-month-old's death at a day care.Vermont State Police arrested Stacey L. Vaillancourt, 53, of Rutland, on Monday.Detectives began investigating after Harper Rose Briar, of Pittsford, was found dead in January.Harper was found unresponsive at the day care and rushed to Rutland Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.According to court documents, Vaillancourt told police she found Harper unresponsive after putting her down for a nap.Vaillancourt told police she found Harper with a blanket covering her face with vomit on it.Vaillancourt's son performed CPR before paramedics arrived.Investigators said Vaillancourt ran a state-certified in-home day care on North Street.It has since been closed.A toxicology test was performed during Harper's autopsy.Police said it determined Harper had high concentrations of diphenhydramine in her body.Diphenhydramine is the active, sedating ingredient in over-the-counter antihistamines, including Benadryl.The Chief Medical Examiner ruled Harper's death as diphenhydramine intoxication.It was ruled a homicide.Vermont State Police said the autopsy report noted diphenhydramine is not to be used on infants absent an order from a physician.Harper did not have a doctor's note ordering use of diphenhydramine.In court documents, the Chief Medical Examiner said Harper's autopsy showed a diphenhydramine blood concentration of 670 nanograms per millimeter.The Chief Medical Examiner said that was about eight times the average blood concentration for a baby of Harper's weight.Investigators determined Vaillancourt was Harper's sole caregiver at the time of her death on Jan. 24.Harper died on her third day under Vaillancourt's care.According to court documents, her mother and father told police Harper did not have any health issues, but rarely napped for long periods of time.Harper's mother told investigators Vaillancourt didn't have emergency contact information for her to fill out because her printer was broken.She said the day before Harper's death, Harper napped for an unusually long time after coming home from day care.Vaillancourt was charged with manslaughter and cruelty to a child.She pleaded not guilty during arraignment Monday afternoon in Vermont Superior Court in Rutland. Vaillancourt was released on $25,000 unsecured appearance bond and conditions.She was scheduled to appear in court again next month.Vaillancourt faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges.Harper's family members packed the courtroom but declined to speak with NBC5.