'Drugged' Brownies May Have Gotten 10 Staffers Sick At Hospice

WESTLAKE, OH — Ten staffers at the Hospice of the Western Reserve became ill after eating a batch of brownies brought in by a coworker. The dessert is being tested by police for analysis of what may have been in the brownies.

On Friday, at about 12:40 p.m., police were called to the hospice in Westlake. They were investigating a possible "drugging" of employees.

Investigators discovered that at least 10 staffers were sick after they ate brownies left in a break room. Two of the employee went to the hospital for symptoms of paranoia and dizziness.

The brownies had been brought in on Thursday (November 15) by a housekeeping staffer. She said they were for everyone. Several employees ate them and became ill over the next several hours.

Hospice of Western Reserve managers traced the sickness to the brownies. They then talked to the housekeeper, who said she found them while cleaning a patient's room. She then gave them to the staff.

Police are getting surveillance video of from those days, and taking statements from all of the employees. Charges are being considered against the housekeeper. The housekeeper was also let go from her job.

The brownies have been submitted to the crime lab for analysis.

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