An infant caregiver of the First Baptist Church Creative Learning Center has been released on $10,000 bond after being charged with two counts of felony child abuse.
An investigation by Starkville Police Department led to the arrest of Dianna Lynn Covin, 52, of 134 Josey Avenue. Sources confirmed she was a nine-year employee of CLC.
Information supplied in two affidavits indicates Covin administered a muscle relaxer called Tizanidine to two infants, a 7-month-old and a 5-month-old, entrusted in her care on May 17. The affidavits state the infants had to receive emergency medical treatment as a result of being administered the drug.
The affidavits state the medication was administered to both infants by "putting portions of the medication directly into the infant's mouth for the express purpose of keeping (them) quiet."
Information provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine describes Tinzanidine as a skeletal muscle relaxant that "works by slowing action in the brain and nervous system to allow the muscles to relax."
Covin is scheduled to appear in Starkville Municipal Court on July 2 at 6 p.m. The investigation is still ongoing in determining if there are more victims.
Sources confirmed Covin's employment was terminated May 21 after she was placed on administrative leave three days prior.
Sources also confirmed Covin was not on the FBC or CLC campus when she was arrested and had not been at CLC since May 18.
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[2] http://starkvilledailynews.com/sites/default/files/COVIN_0.jpg