Drugs/Therapy

Grandmother Charged With Poisoning Grandson With Methadone

By Anne Collins | Update Date: Feb 13, 2017 08:20 AM EST

Judith Anne Tetrealt, 55, resident of Lusby was arrested and charged with child abuse after allegedly poisoning her grandchild with methadone. Tetrealt appeared before a District Court Commissioner and has been held on a no-bond status at the Calvert County Detention Center.

Tetrealt is set to appear before a District Court Judge for a bail hearing. A preliminary court hearing has been set on March 13, 2017 in Prince Frederick District Court.

According to Washington Post, methadone is an opioid medication. The child's grandmother has been charged with Child Abuse, and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.

On Friday the Maryland Department of Child Protective Services called the Calvert's County Sherriff's Office and reported the child poisoning incident. The detectives learned that the 1-year-old was rushed to Calvert Memorial Hospital by her mother on Thursday.

According to Southern Maryland News Net, the child had been in the care of his grandmother earlier that week. After the mother picked the child up from her grandmother's house she noticed the child appeared to be lethargic.  She immediately rushed the infant to the emergency room.

The medical staff treated the infant with Naloxone, which reverses or blocks the effects of opioid medication. It is used to treat narcotic overdose in an emergency situation.

The child was eventually transferred to Georgetown University Medical Center for further evaluation. The Georgetown medical staff was able to determine that the child was suffering from a methadone overdose.

The medical staff listed the child in critical condition or acute status and was treated extensively. Currently, the infant is being monitored closely for cardiac and respiratory issues that may be caused by the overdose.

The police have not released the name of the grandmother at this time. But according to legal court documents, the following charges were filed against her: Child Abuse 1st Degree, Child Abuse 2nd Degree, Assault 1st Degree, Poison/Attempt to Poison, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Neglect of a Minor.

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