Police: Man charged after 15-month-old tests positive for meth, THC
*WARNING: Videos shared by the toddler’s father are contained in the video version of this story embedded above. They could be considered disturbing to some people.*
MT. ORAB, Ohio (FOX19) - Charges have been filed against a man for Child Endangering after a 15-month-old girl tested positive for meth and THC, Mt. Orab police say
Kevin Nowlin Jr. is now facing a 3rd degree felony child endangering charge with more charges expected to come as the investigation continues, according to Mt. Orab Police Department Captain Jason Hahn.
An arrest warrant was issued for Nowlin Wednesday morning.
Nowlin is the mother’s boyfriend, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in Brown County municipal court.
Cash says he noticed something wrong with Ruthie Mae when he went to pick her up from her mother’s house last Thursday. Her mother was not at the home at the time.
The police report says Cash took her to Mercy Health Mt. Orab, where she tested positive for the drugs.
"I mean it really tore me up. I felt as any father would feel. I was in a rage. I wanted answers. I wanted to know why, how, who," said Cash.
The police report says Cash told authorities Ruthie was sticking her head back and extending her arms out at things that were not there, which could indicate hallucinations or overdosing.
"I held that baby for 17 hours straight while she was trying to get meth out of her system, while she was struggling to live," said Cash.
The report says Ruthie was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where Cash says was kept overnight.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Cash contacted Ruthie’s mother, “who reportedly advised Corey not to take R.C. (Ruthie Cash) to the hospital."
He says she got to go home Friday afternoon.
“Thank God for the Children’s Hospital for counteracting the drugs and making it where she’s not brain dead or in cardiac arrest," he said.
According to Cash, Ruthie is better but still recovering. He adds he hopes this serves as a wake-up call to people using drugs around children.
Police asked Ruthie’s mother to come to the Mt. Orab Police Department to make a statement.
She said she was away from the home at the time of the incident but, “advised she believed it was normal for Kevin Nowlin to smoke and consume marijuana inside the residence and believed R.C. may have got in an ashtray where she consumed marijuana,” according to the probable cause affidavit.
Captain Hahn does say more charges are expected and this investigation is still ongoing.
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