A babysitter in Indiana has been arrested and charged after a mother returned home to find her three children unconscious. The 24-year-old babysitter, Deana Nicole Byrd, allegedly taught the children “how to snort pills.” Byrd now faces multiple charges, including child neglect and dealing a controlled substance. The incident occurred in Evansville, Indiana, and authorities have since taken the children into custody.
According to court documents, the incident took place when the children’s mother dropped them off at Byrd’s house the previous night. When she returned the next day, she found her 15-year-old daughter unresponsive in Byrd’s bedroom, while her other two children were unconscious on the couch downstairs. The mother immediately called 911.
First responders arrived at the scene and revived the two younger children, who were stumbling and falling when they regained consciousness. The 15-year-old remained unconscious until she was put into an ambulance. One of the younger children informed an officer that Byrd had given them some of her pills.
During a search of the home, authorities discovered broken orange pill capsules on the bedroom dresser, along with a white powdery substance and a rolled-up Ramen noodle cup lid. The children’s mother stated that she had not heard from Byrd or her children all day. When she arrived at the home, Byrd appeared impaired and was speaking softly on the front porch.
The children were immediately hospitalized and have since recovered. The 15-year-old, when awakened at the hospital, revealed that Byrd had offered her and her brothers pills, which she believed to be Klonopin, Adderall, and Lyrica. Byrd allegedly showed them how to break open the orange pill capsules and snort them using a rolled-up Ramen noodle cup lid. The 15-year-old reported that she and her brothers took several pills of each type, resulting in them falling over and struggling to stand.
Child services workers confirmed the children’s accounts, noting that they had previously removed all three of Byrd’s children. Byrd, however, denied giving the children any pills and claimed they must have found them on their own. Investigators found prescription pill bottles for Adderall and Klonopin at Byrd’s home, and a half-filled prescription bottle for Lyrica in her purse, matching the broken capsules found at the scene.
Deana Nicole Byrd, the babysitter accused of teaching children to snort pills, has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses. The children involved in the incident have been hospitalized but have since recovered. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the case.