A mother in West Virginia was arrested after her 6-year-old son with autism jumped from a second-story window out of their apartment, and he later tested positive for cocaine.
Stevie Thibodeaux was arrested following the incident that took place on Monday, August 10, at the Unity Terrace Apartments in Fairmont, according to WDTV.
Thibodeaux, 30, told investigators that she was sleeping when her son jumped from the window, per the outlet. The window was reportedly missing a screen, and Thibodeaux showed officers childproof locks on the apartment’s doors that were set up to prevent the boy from leaving.
Following the fall, the boy was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital for evaluation. Child Protective Services notified police the next day to report that the child had tested positive for cocaine, according to WBOY.
Authorities then obtained a warrant to search Thibodeaux’s home. They allegedly found a white plate with a white powder substance, a food stamp card and a device to ingest drugs, according to the outlet.
Thibodeaux was not home when the search started, but arrived at the apartment while deputies were looking through the home. She was then taken into custody.
She agreed to speak with investigators, and she allegedly admitted that she ingested cocaine while inside the apartment. However, Thibodeaux also told deputies that she had left the plate with the substance away from the boy and in a closet, according to WDTV.
Thibodeaux was ultimately charged with child neglect creating risk of injury, according to WBOY. She was taken into custody at North Central Regional Jail.
It is not currently clear if Thibodeaux has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The City of Fairmont Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment when asked about updates in the case.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
The current status of the boy’s health has not been shared by officials, while it’s also not known whose custody he’s in following his mother’s arrest.
Cocaine exposure to children causes severe health risks, including acute toxicity, brain and nervous system damage, heart failure and long-term developmental and behavioral delays, according to the National Library of Medicine.
In the state of West Virginia, those found guilty of child neglect creating risk of injury can be sentenced to serve between one to five years in prison and to pay a fine of up to $3,000.
