Daycare Horror: 9-Month-Old Tests Positive for Meth

A 9-month-old baby tested positive for crystal meth after attending Little Blessings Daycare in Mississippi, yet the facility received only a $50 fine for failing to report the incident.

Key Takeaways

• Baby Dean Demita tested positive for methamphetamine after spending a day at Little Blessings Daycare in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
• Dean’s parents rushed him to the emergency room when he exhibited severe distress, including “blood-curdling screams” and failure to recognize his mother.
• The Mississippi Department of Health fined the daycare just $50 for not reporting the incident, despite the serious nature of the exposure.
• The daycare has a history of troubling allegations, including reports of hitting children and locking them in dark rooms.
• Dean’s mother now brings him to work rather than risk his safety at another childcare facility.

Dangerous Exposure at Mississippi Daycare

In a shocking case of child endangerment, 9-month-old Dean Demita tested positive for crystal methamphetamine after spending time at Little Blessings Daycare in Yazoo City, Mississippi. His parents, Marla and Johnathon Demita, noticed something was severely wrong when they picked up their infant son. Dean displayed extreme distress that went far beyond normal fussiness, prompting immediate concern from his parents. The disturbing behavior included signs of chemical exposure that no parent should ever have to witness, particularly after entrusting their child to a licensed care 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.

Even more alarming was Dean’s apparent dissociation, suggesting the methamphetamine had affected his neurological function. “It’s like he looked straight through me, like he didn’t know who I was,” Marla explained, describing the horrifying moment when her baby seemed unable to recognize her. This symptom alone highlights the severity of the exposure, as methamphetamine is known to cause serious psychological effects even in adults, let alone an infant whose brain is still developing rapidly.

Minimal Consequences Despite Serious Harm

The response from regulatory authorities has been woefully inadequate given the gravity of the situation. The Mississippi Department of Health issued a mere $50 fine to Little Blessings Daycare, citing only their failure to report the incident rather than addressing the actual exposure. This negligible penalty has outraged the Demita family and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of childcare oversight in the state. The department claimed they could not confirm the exposure happened at the daycare, despite the timing of symptoms and medical evidence showing methamphetamine in Dean’s system immediately after his time at the facility.

The daycare’s director, Lisa Martin, has maintained silence, refusing to respond to media inquiries about the incident. This lack of accountability comes despite a troubling history at the facility. Previous complaints against Little Blessings alleged abusive disciplinary practices, including hitting children and locking them in dark rooms as punishment. Such allegations should have triggered thorough investigations and close monitoring of the facility long before a child was exposed to dangerous narcotics.

Investigation Failures and Ongoing Concerns

The Health Department’s investigation into Dean’s methamphetamine exposure appears to have been remarkably superficial. While officials conducted interviews and reviewed the daycare’s physical facilities, they failed to contact Dean’s medical team or reach out to other parents whose children might have been similarly exposed. This represents a serious oversight in protecting public safety and ensuring no other children suffered similar harm. Without cameras in the rooms, determining exactly how the exposure occurred proves challenging, though the director’s proposed solution of implementing shoe coverings seems woefully inadequate.

“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.

For the Demita family, the consequences of this ordeal continue. With their trust in childcare providers shattered, Marla now takes Dean to work with her rather than risk his safety at another facility. This arrangement places significant stress on both mother and child, as Dean must spend most of his day confined to a playpen while his mother attempts to fulfill her professional responsibilities. The situation highlights the impossible choices many working parents face when childcare options prove unsafe or unreliable, especially in areas with limited oversight and accountability for providers.