A Kitchener woman accused of poisoning children in her care is now facing charges relating to another seven alleged victims.
Waterloo Regional Police say 14 more charges were laid Friday against Christine Allen.
“We did determine that additional charges have come into play,” says police spokesperson Alana Holtom.
Allen, 32, was first charged with administering a noxious substance in July after a two-year-old was taken to hospital three times in five days.
At the time, police alleged that another child in Allen’s care had been taken to hospital with similar symptoms of lethargy, drowsiness and a low heart rate three years earlier.
She has been in custody since then, and her lawyer says she will not seek to be released on bail.
“It is stating the obvious to say that there are very serious allegations and the evidence supporting them needs to be looked at very seriously to see whether or not there’s any sufficient basis for proceeding with the charges,” Craig Parry tells CTV News.
The new charges laid Friday bring the allegations against Allen to a total of nine counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and nine counts of administering a noxious substance.
Police say the victims include eight children and one adult.
In all cases, police believe both children were given an eye care product containing a substance known as tetrahydrozoline.
“When taken orally or ingested, it can cause low blood pressure, a lowered heart rate, difficulty breathing,” says Holtom.
According to police, the allegations against Allen date back over several years, involving children aged between one day old and two years and a 32-year-old adult.
The victims are residents of Kitchener and Guelph.
Police say there may be further victims and witnesses who they have not been in contact with.
