Four daycare workers were arrested in connection to giving children melatonin without parental consent, authorities say

• Four daycare workers were arrested after being accused of giving children melatonin without consent.
• The workers of Mimi's Child Care were arrested and charged on Thursday, local news reported.

Four Tennessee daycare workers are reportedly facing multiple charges after being accused of giving children melatonin without their parents' permission.

Jamie Chark, 45, Kristin Clark, 21, Ethan Pulley, 21, and Jordan Darnell, 22, were arrested by the Stewart County Sherriff's Office on Thursday, WSMV-TV reported.

Jamie, Kristin, and Jordan were all charged with child abuse and neglect, tampering with evidence, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to the report. Ethan was charged with tampering with evidence.

Authorities were notified about the alleged actions of the staff at Mimi's Child Care, located in Stewart County, Tennessee, in late March, WKRN- TV reported.

Parents told the sheriff's office that their kids had health-related issues after staying at the establishment, per the report. Authorities think at least 27 children were given melatonin at the daycare, the report said.

"There are some parents that have stated their children have suffered possibly from the melatonin that they'd been given," Detective Lee Miller told the outlet this week. "So, we're still investigating that."

A former employee told WSMV-TV that she saw the staff allegedly giving the children the medicine.

"I quit my job and started working at the daycare. I witnessed them giving Melatonin to the children," Mother Candace Short told the outlet. "Shock is like I don't even know because it's more than shock; it's literally devastation."