A 3-year-old Indiana child ate fentanyl from a pill crusher in her father’s backpack, and her father is facing criminal abuse charges in the case, according to prosecutors. Devin D’rell Rollins, 25, is in detention on allegations of felony neglect of a dependent. The young girl has recovered and is now safe with her family.
According to an affidavit acquired by local Fox and CBS station WXIN, the case was discovered on June 30 while the girl and her father were staying at her aunt’s house.
The incidents occurred after the father allegedly informed the aunt that his kid had “possibly gotten into some Tylenol,” according to court filings.
The aunt contacted 911 and reported that the girl was lethargic and had been hospitalized. Staff at the hospital attempted to locate the father, who was believed to be with his daughter but was not present, according to the affidavit.
According to the paper, DCS workers and police were contacted.
“Devin was not located by officers or DCS,” the document stated, adding that DCS attempted 19 times to contact the father and mother. Police attempted to knock on doors at several Muncie addresses but were unsuccessful, according to the affidavit.
Doctors eventually discovered the girl had tested positive for fentanyl, and police arrested the father at his residence, according to the affidavit.
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He had left the girl’s aunt’s home before paramedics arrived to take his daughter to the hospital.
According to the affidavit, Devin called the girl’s mother and informed her that “he woke up next to KR and she was limp.”
According to the paper, he did not inform the mother about his departure and did not accompany the girl to the hospital.
When Devin, who has two past child negligence offenses and three open warrants, was brought in for questioning, he told detectives that “he just wanted to go to jail and that his daughter is fine,” the affidavit stated.
He also allegedly informed police that he was “withdrawing.”
When the officer asked what he was withdrawing from, he said, “You already know what,” according to the affidavit.
When the officer learned his daughter had tested positive for fentanyl, he allegedly stated that she “may have gotten into an old pill crusher in his backpack.”
He also allegedly informed police why he fled before paramedics arrived to transport his daughter to the hospital, claiming he had been “running from these warrants” for five years.
According to Lawandcrime, Rollins was placed into the Delaware County Jail on Tuesday on a charge of neglect of a dependent for a $20,000 bond.
He is facing two pending child neglect and imprisonment charges in Delaware County, according to online court records. The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office has until Wednesday to pursue criminal charges, according to court records. A relative talked to WXIN anonymously, imploring them not to judge the defendant.
“I don’t excuse his choices. However, I believe that people should be a little more empathetic and less judgmental because I’m sure that everyone knows someone who is an addict or is actively addicted, and it’s an unpleasant situation. It’s a nasty disease that claims life.”
“He just made some really poor choices, and he’s going to have to live with this the rest of his life,” the neighbor said.