A Florida middle schooler overdosed in class after taking her father's fentanyl from the family home, prompting the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to charge both caregivers with child neglect.
Background
The incident occurred the morning of March 10 at LA Ainger Middle School in Charlotte County, Florida. Deputies responded to a call about a student who wasn't breathing and found the school nurse administering CPR to the girl.
Investigators determined the child had found a small container of fentanyl on the bathroom sink at the residence. She placed the container in her backpack before heading to school, according to an affidavit.
Once at school, the girl went to the bathroom and placed a small amount of fentanyl powder on her finger and swallowed it. An affidavit noted she allegedly snorted the powder off the toilet paper holder and walked out of the bathroom with white powder on her nose.
The girl told a first responder she had seen her father doing drugs and was curious about it. The effects were near-immediate, with the student barely returning to class before losing consciousness.
The Charges
Joshua Sanders, 40, and Courtney Delaney, 34, were both arrested and charged with one count of neglect of a child with great bodily harm. They each face two additional counts of neglect of a child without great bodily harm, with those charges relating to other children in the home.
Delaney had thrown away bottles of Sanders' drugs on multiple occasions but made no effort to remove him from the home despite his repeated drug use, according to the affidavit.
Delaney was given a $25,000 bond. Sanders received a $450,000 bond.
Key Takeaways
- The 12-year-old girl was saved after deputies administered Narcan, which yielded positive results
- Investigators determined the drug was fentanyl that the child found on the bathroom sink at home
- The girl told deputies she saw her father doing drugs and was curious about trying it
- Delaney had previously thrown away the father's drug bottles but did not remove him from the home
- Neither parent faces drug charges at this time
What's Next
Both suspects remain in custody pending bond. Their first court appearance has not yet been scheduled. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the overdose is ongoing.