A 9-month-old baby in Mississippi tested positive for crystal meth after a day at Little Blessings Daycare, yet the facility received only a $50 fine for failing to report the incident.
Key Takeaways
- Baby Dean tested positive for crystal meth after attending Little Blessings Daycare in Yazoo City, Mississippi, exhibiting severe distress including “blood-curdling screams.”
- The Mississippi Department of Health fined the daycare just $50 for failing to report the incident, claiming they couldn’t confirm the meth exposure occurred at the facility.
- Previous complaints against the daycare alleged serious misconduct, including hitting children and locking them in dark rooms.
- Dean’s parents have removed him from the daycare; his mother now keeps him with her at work despite the significant challenges this presents.
- The daycare has no cameras in its rooms and suggested implementing “shoe coverings” as a corrective measure.
A Parent’s Nightmare Unfolds
What began as a routine day for the Demita family quickly descended into a parent’s worst nightmare when Marla and Johnathon Demita picked up their 9-month-old son, Dean, from Little Blessings Daycare in Yazoo City, Mississippi. The infant was exhibiting deeply disturbing behavior that immediately alarmed his parents. Instead of the normal fussiness that might be expected from a tired baby, Dean was inconsolable and seemed completely disoriented. The situation was so alarming that the Demitas rushed their son to the emergency room, where medical tests would soon deliver a shocking revelation.
“And I’m not talking about fussy crying. I’m talking about blood curling screams. It was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen,” said Marla Demita.
Dean’s behavior went beyond mere distress. Even more troubling was his apparent inability to recognize his own mother. “It’s like he looked straight through me, like he didn’t know who I was,” Marla Demita recounted. This disassociation, combined with his physical distress, prompted immediate medical intervention. When test results came back, they confirmed what no parent should ever have to hear: their 9-month-old had crystal methamphetamine in his system.
A Token Fine and Inadequate Response
The response from authorities to this serious incident has drawn justifiable outrage from the community and beyond. After investigating, the Mississippi Department of Health levied a fine of just $50 against Little Blessings Daycare. This paltry sum—less than the cost of most dinners for two—was for failing to report the incident, not for the actual exposure of a baby to a deadly narcotic. The Health Department claimed they could not confirm that the methamphetamine exposure occurred at the daycare, despite the obvious correlation between Dean’s time there and his subsequent symptoms.
The daycare’s director, Lisa Martin, has remained conspicuously silent, offering no comment or explanation for how a baby in their care could have been exposed to such a dangerous substance. The facility’s response to the incident has been equally inadequate. Despite the serious nature of the situation, their proposed corrective measure was to implement “shoe coverings”—a solution that seems wildly insufficient given the gravity of what occurred. Even more troubling is the revelation that the daycare has no cameras in its rooms, making it impossible to review what happened.
A History of Alarming Allegations
This incident doesn’t appear to be an isolated failure at Little Blessings Daycare. Reports indicate that the facility has been the subject of previous complaints for alleged abuse, including accusations of staff hitting children and locking them in dark rooms. These disturbing allegations suggest a pattern of misconduct rather than a single unfortunate event. Further evidence emerged when video footage later revealed a teacher threatening a child and the director making references to spanking children. Despite these serious concerns, official action seems to have been limited to a meeting about discipline protocols.
The Health Department’s investigation methodology has also raised questions. While they conducted interviews and reviewed the facility, they apparently did not contact Dean’s medical team or reach out to parents of other children at the daycare. This approach seems incomplete at best and negligent at worst, given the potential danger to other children who might have been exposed to the same hazardous environment. Law enforcement is reportedly coordinating with health officials on the investigation, but no substantive updates have been provided.
A Mother’s New Reality
In the aftermath of this traumatic experience, Marla and Johnathon Demita made the obvious decision to remove Dean from Little Blessings Daycare. With no trustworthy childcare options available and understandably unwilling to risk their son’s safety again, Marla has resorted to taking Dean with her to work each day. This solution, while ensuring Dean’s safety, creates significant hardship for the family and particularly for Marla, who must now simultaneously perform her job duties while caring for her infant son.
“So, I’m having to do my everyday job and keep up with a child all day from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. He has to sit in a playpen 90% of the day,” Marla Demita explained.
This case highlights the severe inadequacies in our childcare regulatory system. When exposing a baby to crystal meth—a highly addictive stimulant with potentially fatal consequences—results in nothing more than a $50 fine, it raises serious questions about how we value and protect our most vulnerable citizens. The contrast between the severity of the offense and the leniency of the punishment demonstrates a disturbing disparity that demands immediate attention from lawmakers and regulatory agencies. American families deserve better protection for their children, and those who endanger them must face appropriate consequences.
