Children removed from home after toddler tests positive for meth

A Poplar Bluff toddler and his sibling(s) were removed from their mother’s care Thursday after he tested positive for methamphetamine.

At about 7:35 p.m., Poplar Bluff Cpl. Steve Nance responded to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center to meet with Missouri Children’s Division personnel.

Upon Nance’s arrival, according to his report, he met Children’s Division Investigator Deana Yates, who reported “they had received a hotline in reference to a 14-month-old that had tested positive for methamphetamine in the emergency room.”

Nance subsequently contacted the mother and her son.

“(The mother) advised on Sunday (her son) broke out in a rash all over his face and body,” Nance said. “She brought him to the emergency room for the rash, and this was confirmed by hospital personnel.”

After speaking with staff on Sunday and due to the ER “being so busy,” the mother reported she left without her son being seen, Nance said.

On Thursday, “she noticed the rash was no better and (her son) began doing involuntary movements with his mouth and body,” Nance said. “(She) again brought him to the emergency room, where it was learned he was testing positive for methamphetamine.”

Nance said the mother provided him with a list of those who had been at her home.

“(She) advised no one at the residence currently uses methamphetamine, and they know not to have it at her home around her children,” Nance said.

According to medical staff, Nance said, it’s believed the toddler ingested the methamphetamine orally due to the rash being more extensive around his mouth area.

The mother, he said, voluntarily provided a urine sample for drug testing to Children’s Division personnel and gave permission for her home to be searched for illegal narcotics.

Nance said officers accompanied Children’s Division personnel to the woman’s West Victor Street residence for a home visit and to search the home.

“The search yielded no illegal narcotics or paraphernalia,” Nance said. “The home was cluttered, dirty and infested with roaches.”

Nance said all of the woman’s children were removed by the Children’s Division and placed with a relative.

“At this time, it is unknown how the child ingested the methamphetamine or who is responsible for having the methamphetamine at the residence,” Nance said.