Mississippi parents were horrified to discover their 9-month-old son tested positive for crystal meth after a day at Little Blessings Daycare, yet the facility received just a $50 fine from state authorities.
Key Takeaways
- Nine-month-old Dean Demita tested positive for methamphetamine after attending Little Blessings Daycare in Yazoo City, Mississippi
- The Mississippi Department of Health issued only a $50 fine to the daycare for failing to report the incident
- Dean’s parents noticed severe distress, including “blood-curdling screams” and failure to recognize his mother
- Little Blessings Daycare has a history of complaints including allegations of corporal punishment and locking children in dark rooms
- Dean’s mother now keeps him with her at work rather than risk his safety at another childcare facility
Infant Exposed to Dangerous Drug While in Daycare’s Care
What should have been a routine day at daycare turned into a nightmare for Mississippi parents Marla and Johnathon Demita when they picked up their 9-month-old son Dean from Little Blessings Daycare in Yazoo City. The child displayed alarming symptoms that immediately concerned his parents. Dean was inconsolable, screaming uncontrollably, and exhibited disturbing behavior that prompted an emergency hospital visit. Medical tests confirmed the unthinkable – the infant had methamphetamine in his system after spending the day at what his parents believed was a safe childcare facility.
“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.
Perhaps most disturbing was the child’s inability to recognize his own mother. “It’s like he looked straight through me, like he didn’t know who I was,” Marla reported. The symptoms Dean displayed are consistent with methamphetamine exposure, a powerful stimulant that can have devastating effects on adults, let alone an infant whose developing brain and body are particularly vulnerable to toxins. Crystal meth is known to cause extreme agitation, confusion, hallucinations, and in severe cases can lead to seizures, heart attacks, or death.
Government’s Shockingly Inadequate Response
The Mississippi Department of Health’s response to this serious incident has drawn sharp criticism from both the family and community members. After investigating, state officials fined Little Blessings Daycare a mere $50 for failing to report the incident – an amount that many view as insultingly inadequate for such a grave violation of trust and safety. The Health Department claimed they could not definitively confirm that the meth exposure happened at the daycare, despite the clear timeline of the child’s symptoms beginning immediately after his time at the facility.
The investigation appears to have been alarmingly incomplete. Health officials reportedly did not contact Dean’s medical team or other parents with children at the facility. This lack of thorough investigation raises serious questions about the state’s commitment to protecting its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The daycare’s director, Lisa Martin, has not responded to media inquiries about the incident, further fueling concerns about accountability and transparency at the facility.
Troubled History Reveals Pattern of Concerning Behavior
This isn’t the first time Little Blessings Daycare has faced accusations of inappropriate conduct. Records show previous complaints against the facility for alleged abuse, including hitting children and locking them in dark rooms as punishment. Video footage later revealed a teacher threatening a child, and the director herself reportedly referenced spanking children. Despite these serious allegations, authorities merely conducted a meeting about discipline practices without implementing substantial penalties or oversight.
“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,” said Marla Demita.
The daycare’s lack of basic safety measures is equally troubling. The facility does not have cameras in the rooms where children are supervised, eliminating crucial oversight that might prevent or document abuse. When asked about corrective measures following Dean’s meth exposure, the director reportedly suggested implementing shoe coverings – a response that seems wildly inadequate given the severity of the incident. The facility’s cavalier approach to child safety, combined with the state’s minimal response, paints a disturbing picture of institutional failure.
Parents Forced to Make Difficult Sacrifices
Following this traumatic experience, Marla and Johnathon Demita made the only decision they felt could protect their son – removing him permanently from Little Blessings Daycare. With limited childcare options and a profound breach of trust in the system designed to protect children, Marla now brings Dean to work with her daily. This arrangement, while far from ideal, represents the lengths to which parents must go when government agencies fail to properly regulate and enforce safety standards in childcare facilities.
While health department officials claim they are coordinating with law enforcement on an ongoing investigation, no further updates have been provided to the family or public. This case highlights the critical need for stricter oversight of childcare facilities, more significant penalties for violations, and a renewed commitment to protecting children when parents must entrust them to others’ care. For now, the Demita family continues to deal with the aftermath of this betrayal while struggling to balance work responsibilities and their child’s safety.
