Daycare death trial could take “several weeks”, state says

The trial against a Millsboro daycare owner started Wednesday, with several witnesses testifying.

Valorie Handy, 52, is accused of killing a 10-month old baby boy in her care in January 2015. The child was enrolled at her home daycare Handy’s Little Disciples on Layton-Davis Road in Millsboro.

In opening statements Wednesday a prosecutor for the state of Delaware said the trial would likely last several weeks, possibly past the Thanksgiving holiday.

The state claims the child died from a large amount of diphenhydramine allegedly found in his system. The antihistamine is an active ingredient in Benadryl, which can can cause drowsiness.

Too much of diphenhydramine can force someone to stop breathing and possibly kill them, according to prosecutor’s opening statements to the jury.

They claim Handy was the sole daycare provider that January day who could have fed the infant that drug.

A defense attorney for Handy urged the jury to consider six factors in the coming weeks of this trial, including evidence the state did collect but also what they did not collect.

A detective with the Delaware State Police testified that snacks and bottles of milk brought to the daycare by the child’s mother were not catalogued.

When questioned on the stand during cross examination, the detective said investigators did not think it was needed at the time.

The defense also told the jury there’s evidence there child was exposed to some level of diphenhydramine before he was enrolled in Handy’s daycare.

A medical examiner is expected to testify on Thursday.

Handy faces one charge of murder by abuse.