Infant death linked to methamphetamine

wireready_08-15-2017-16-26-02_07877_lakynrogers

A Summit woman, 27-year-old Lakyn Rogers, is being held in the Marion County Detention Center on two charges linked to the death of her son less than an hour after his birth. Rogers tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana prior to delivery.
According to the arrest affidavit, Rogers gave birth at Baxter Regional Medical Center in October 2016. Despite resuscitative efforts, the infant succumbed to respiratory distress after less than an hour of life. The infant’s body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy.In addition to developmental issues, the toxicology results indicate the infant tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana. The affidavit notes to what extent the death was directly related to maternal methamphetamine use cannot be stated with certainty. For that reason, according to the affidavit, the manner of death is best classified as undetermined. It also notes maternal methamphetamine use was a contributing condition.

According to reports received from BRMC, after the child died, Rogers is alleged to have dressed in street clothes and, with a group of people with her, snuck out of the hospital without being discharged with a saline lock still in her arm.

The affidavit also notes Rogers tested positive for methamphetamines, amphetamines and THC during a prenatal visit, and is alleged to have admitted to using methamphetamine. She was counseled on the risk of loss of pregnancy and birth defects at that time and a second time when an abnormal ultrasound was detected. No further prenatal visits were made.

The deceased child has an older sibling born in 2015, at which time Rogers also tested positive for methamphetamines and THC. In 2015, she is alleged to have admitted to using methamphetamine four days prior to that child’s birth and THC one week prior to the birth. Parental rights for the older child were terminated and custody awarded to a family member.

Rogers has been charged with two counts of introduction of a controlled substance into the body of another, with one count being a schedule one or two narcotic, both felony offenses. She was booked into the Marion County jail Monday evening. Her bond has been set at $100,000.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI