Advertisement

Ex-Kitchener daycare provider Christine Allen, who poisoned children, released from prison

The mother of an infant who was poisoned by a former Kitchener, Ont., daycare provider says she's worried Christine Allen might hurt another child now that she has been released from prison following a four-year term.

In 2013, Allen pleaded guilty to using medicated eye drops to spike the juice of at least four children. One infant, identified as Baby M during the court proceedings, suffered brain damage.

The 36-year-old was released Monday morning, and Peel Regional Police issued a public safety advisory in Brampton, where Allen will live in the Charolais Boulevard area.

"I'm frustrated because she didn't have much time to serve," Baby M's mother told CBC News on Monday.

"It's concerning that she's out," added the mother, who cannot be identified because of a publication ban. "It's disturbing. It's very disturbing and sickening. And to know she's out and able to do something again is scary."

Allen ran an unlicensed daycare from a home in the Pioneer Park area of Kitchener from 2009 to 2011. She was accused of poisoning eight children and an adult.

At her trial, her lawyer, Craig Parry, said she had bipolar disorder and used illicit drugs, funded by running the daycare.

In an agreed statement of facts, Allen admitted to feeding four children tetrahydrozoline, found in over-the-counter eye drops that can cause serious illness if ingested.

Two of the children were wards in her daycare. Two other children were family friends.

Police said the majority of the poisonings occurred between 2010 and 2013.

Allen asked for prayers

Allen admitted to poisoning Baby M numerous times during the first four months of life. Allen, a longtime friend of Baby M's mother, was at the hospital for the birth, and court documents showed that shortly after, the girl's grandmother noticed she seemed to be having trouble breathing.

After Allen watched the baby while the mother took a shower, the baby again was lethargic and had trouble breathing. Allen accompanied the mom to the hospital and held the baby while the mom slept. Baby M frequently stopped breathing so had to be intubated.

Baby M was airlifted to London Health Sciences Centre and stayed in the hospital from Aug. 14 to Sept. 10, 2012 before she was transferred to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.

The baby would improve, but the statement of facts noted her condition would worsen after visits from Allen.

While the baby was at the Hospital for Sick Children, Allen stayed with the family at Ronald McDonald house and posted videos online asking people to pray for Baby M.

The poisonings depleted her brain of oxygen on "many occasions," causing mental and physical developmental delays.

Red flags raised in report

A report in May from the Parole Board of Canada raised a number of red flags about Allen's release.

She felt "anxiety, frustration and anger" when moved to a minimum security unit in June 2016 because she felt like she was unwelcomed and judged by others, the report said. She sought help and worked with a psychiatrist.

A March 8 psychological assessment noted Allen had a "lack of insight" for the offences, which "is problematic" as she is "unable to articulate the specific psychological motivations for the violence you perpetrated."

"The psychological assessment indicates that a much greater understanding of your violent offending, attitudes towards children, maladaptive coping and mental health needs is needed for the development of an effective relapse prevention plan," the report noted.

Allen was released on condition that she:

- Not associate with anyone who is, or who she thinks is, involved in criminal activity.

- Is not permitted to purchase, possess or consume drugs other than prescribed medications taken as prescribed and over-the-counter drugs taken as recommended.

- Meet with a mental health team and participate in a treatment plan.

- Not be in the presence of any children under 16 unless accompanied by a responsible adult who knows her criminal history and has previously been approved in writing by her parole supervisor.

- Not contact the victims or any member of the victims' families.

- Not be allowed to enter Waterloo Region.

Concerns it could happen again

"If she didn't have any remorse and, like they said, lack of insight, I'm worried she may try and do it again to my children and find us, find my children, or the other kids that she did it to or new kids," Baby M's mother told CBC.

"Any time, Baby M could have a stroke because of the damages she had in her brain. We take every day as we go."

She said there are physical reminders of Allen daily — scars she can see, or even places they visit that they used to go to with Allen when they were friends.

"It will never go away. There are always reminders."

Baby M's mother said she would like to ask Allen why she poisoned her child, but knows she may never get an answer.

'It's a lot of work'

As Allen was released from prison, Baby M received a new augmentation device to help her communicate better with her family.

"She has trouble talking because of her poor muscle tone from the brain damage," the mother said.

Using the device, Baby M will be able to pick out pictures of things to help her parents understand what she needs and wants.

Her mother admits, it is a daily struggle.

"It's a lot of work for her. It's a lot of work for us," she said.

But there are bright spots.

"She's always happy," the mother said.

They weren't sure the child would be able to walk, but she can. She is late in her cognitive development, but is able to learn and grow.

"With all the therapy and everything, we've been able to teach her and we have to keep teaching her otherwise she'll lose it," the mother said.

"The small things are what are amazing."