COOL RIDGE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Multiple individuals are facing charges following an incident on Saturday afternoon in which a two-year-old child overdosed on an unspecified narcotic.
According to reports from Senior Trooper J.I. Jones with the West Virginia State Police, on Saturday, July 1, 2023, emergency services were called to the Fawn Lane area of Cool Ridge in response to a child purportedly “choking.” Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement was informed that Jackie Smith, the father of the child and one of the individuals responsible for the care of the child at the time of the incident, had left the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
EMS advised responding officers that the child, a two-year-old girl, had been “semi-resuscitate(d)” but was still struggling to breathe and was unresponsive. The child was transported to Raleigh General Hospital by ambulance and was later taken to CAMC due to the severity of her injuries.
Trooper Jones spoke briefly with the mother of child Amy Taylor – who shares four additional daughters with Smith, ages ranging from 3-12 – and was informed by Taylor that she had been at work at the time of the incident. Taylor advised that she had been told by Smith that the child was choking on a biscuit.
All four additional daughters were present at the residence at the incident involving the fifth sibling occurred. Also present at the residence was Patricia Taylor, mother of Amy Taylor and the second individual responsible for the care of the children at the time the incident occurred.
Law enforcement discovered P. Taylor inside the resident and noted that she displayed erratic movements and evasive behavior consistent with narcotic use. Detailing the condition of the home in general, Trooper Jones reported having, “observed the residence and found it to be in a dilapidated and generally unhygienic state, especially for the care and domicile of five young children. This Trooper observed the bathroom to be in a filthy state, with burnt soda cans used in the inhalation of narcotics littered in the sink, a broken and unhygienic shower, and general grime and refuse littered on the floors.”
Burned foil and straws were reportedly discovered in several locations throughout the primary living area, along with multiple other instances of “blatant drug paraphernalia.” Additionally, the “odorous aroma of marijuana” could be detected emanating from a bedroom where burned foil and straws were also discovered. Trooper J.C. Casey who also responded to the scene, indicates that the drug paraphernalia discovered was within hands-reach of all the children residing in the house.
EMS personnel were required to administer two (2) 2milligram doses of Naloxone, (an opioid reversal/reduction medication) to the three-year-old child, at which point she immediately became responsive and alert, indicating the ingestion of an opioid or narcotic which had caused her to overdose.
Head Medic Robert Wilbur, who led the EMS crew attending to and transporting the child, advised that the child’s airway was “completely clear” upon inspection, directly conflicting with initial reports of the child having choked. It was additionally advised that the child’s pupils were “pinpoint,” indicating narcotic consumption. It was upon this realization that Naloxone was administered, and the child became responsive. Two (2) further milligram doses of Naloxone were required to be administered to the child upon arrival at the hospital.
A search warrant for the residence at which the incident took place would be executed later in the day, at which time the Trooper encountered “a clearly intoxicated male who had not been present before.” This individual, who was discovered emerging from the bathroom, identified himself as Charles Meadows and was found to be in possession of an array of drug paraphernalia.
Meadows was reportedly, “so intoxicated he was having trouble standing, and was detained after being removed from the residence. Continuing the search, various forms of drug paraphernalia were discovered, including pieces of burned foil with trace evidence of illegally smoked narcotics, as well as equipment used in the distribution of narcotics.
Also discovered on the property were Smith and P. Taylor, who attempted to flee the scene in an SUV but were prevented by Troopers from doing so. In addition to discovering methamphetamine on Smith’s person, Troopers observed a small pouch containing several hypodermic needles in plain sight. Two of these needles contained a clear liquid consistent with liquid methamphetamine. Smith would later confess to having ingested heroin prior to the operation of the motor vehicle.
P. Taylor was found to have a criminal history involving nearly identical circumstances on September of 2019, at which time four of the five children involved in the present-day incident had also been under her care.
“It is this Trooper’s belief Amy Taylor did knowingly and willingly leave all five of her daughters in the care of her drug addicted spouse and mother, knowing full well their current conditions of drug use and past history of child neglect,” read official reports from law enforcement.
Child Protection Services were contacted as a result of the incident and all three individuals A. Taylor, P. Taylor, and Jackie Smith have been arrested on charges pertaining to child neglect.
The mother of the five children, Amy Taylor, has been charged with four counts of Child Abuse Creating Risk of Injury and one count of Child Neglect Resulting in Injury.
The father of the five children, Jackie Smith, has been charged with four counts of Child Neglect Causing Substantial Risk of Injury, Child Neglect Causing Serious Bodily Injury, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, and Driving While Suspended.
The grandmother of the five children, Patricia Taylor, has been charged with four counts of Child Abuse Creating Risk of Injury and one count of Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
