BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two Beckley parents are facing child abuse and neglect charges after their 4-year-old daughter was hospitalized and tested positive for THC following the ingestion of a high-potency cannabis gummy, according to police.
Officers responded to Raleigh General Hospital on May 11, 2026, after receiving a report of possible child abuse or neglect involving a young child who had been brought to the emergency room in a lethargic condition.
Hospital staff told investigators the child was extremely lethargic when she arrived and later tested positive for THC during medical evaluation.
According to the investigation, the child’s mother, Katie Sheets, told police she believed her daughter accessed and consumed a THC gummy that had been stored in a bathroom medicine cabinet. Sheets said the child likely climbed onto a toilet to reach the cabinet sometime before bedtime.
The following morning, the child reportedly remained lethargic, struggled to keep her eyes open, and complained of not feeling well. She was then taken to Raleigh General Hospital for treatment.
Police seized the packaging for the edible, identified as a “Flying Horse” brand THC gummy containing 1,500 milligrams of THC.
The child’s father, Carl McKinney, told officers he had purchased the gummy from a vape shop in Mullens and stored it in a lockbox inside a nightstand drawer. However, he later realized the lockbox had not been locked.
McKinney also told investigators that the child woke during the night screaming and appeared unable to open her eyes, but he did not initially believe the behavior was cause for concern.
Medical records obtained by investigators confirmed the child tested positive for THC. Hospital staff also notified Child Protective Services after receiving the test results.
Police allege both parents knowingly possessed the THC edible and failed to secure it in a manner that prevented the child from accessing it. Investigators further noted that approximately eight hours passed before the child was taken for medical treatment despite exhibiting symptoms.
As a result of the investigation, both McKinney and Sheets have been charged with one count each of child abuse and neglect resulting in injury.
The incident occurred in Beckley, Raleigh County.
