Recently, a daycare provider in Cincinnati, Ohio, passed out after drinking too heavily. When the incident occurred, Julie Groteke, a 42-year-old woman, was caring for nine children inside of her home in Wyoming, Ohio.
A woman who had her granddaughter in Groteke’s care called the police when she went to pick up her granddaughter. She heard a child crying inside only to find Groteke allegedly “passed out on the couch.” The woman told the police that she was breathing but that no one could wake her up.
When the police arrived, Groteke was found unconscious on the couch inside the family room. Police counted about nine children, not including the biological children that belonged to Groteke.
According to the grandmother, Groteke was the only one present to care for all children.
The daycare provider’s blood alcohol content was reported to be more than four times that of what’s legal for a driving limit for adults, which is .08.
As a daycare provider, she should know that there are legalities to what she can and cannot do when caring for children. In addition, there are state daycare worker qualifications that must be adhered to at all times. For example, the consumption of alcohol is not permitted.
A blood alcohol content between .3 and .39 can lead to unconsciousness and irregular breathing. A blood alcohol content of the above can result in a risk of sudden death.
It was not long before the paramedics came to take Groteke to the Bethesda North Hospital by ambulance.
According to the Hamilton County Department of Job & Family Services, she operated the daycare illegally as she did not have a license to run one. This may account that she was not aware of the different qualifications, mainly drinking on the job.
An investigation has been opened up to identify what was happening at the house. Groteke has already made her first court appearance for the case. This was when the judge told her that she was not permitted to have contact with any of the children who were not hers while the case proceeds.
The investigation is still pending, which means that it is unclear why she was drinking so heavily while caring for nine children in her home. Unfortunately, many people place their children in the care of others without looking to find out whether they are licensed or not.
Groteke may face felony charges due to conducting a daycare illegally and being heavily intoxicated while caring for minor children. Hamilton County will be the ones involved in handling the details of the case.
