In a case that starkly illustrates the intersections of parental neglect, substance abuse, and the vulnerability of children with disabilities, two Arkansas parents face multiple charges. The couple was arrested following the discovery of their autistic child wandering alone in a Trumann parking lot, who was later found to be exposed to fentanyl. According to WREG, the child was found dirty and unable to communicate on October 24th by police officers responding to a call near the Pizza Hut on Turmann.
Quinterio Holman and Camille Barker, the child's parents, were arrested after the child tested positive for prolonged fentanyl exposure. Despite being on probation, the couple was found inside a Boutique and Coffee Lounge in the same building, leaving the child exposed to significant risks due to an unsecured door. After they were found sleeping on the floor by officers conducting a search, as reported by Action News 5, the couple now faces charges of first-degree child endangerment, introducing a controlled substance into another's body, and third-degree child endangerment.
The Trumann Police Department detailed on a Facebook post how the Department of Human Services was alerted when the child exhibited symptoms of extreme drowsiness and difficulty staying awake, leading to hospitalization and the discovery of the child's fentanyl exposure on October 25th. A hair follicle test confirmed the child had been exposed to fentanyl over a three-month period. Chief Jonathan Redman commends his officers for their diligence in uncovering the neglect and serious substance exposure risks that befell the vulnerable child.
Holman and Barker were taken into custody on November 13, subsequent controlled substances believed to be fentanyl were located at the time of their arrest, and they are currently being held at the Poinsett County Detention Center. Both face a probable cause hearing. The charges levied against them, according to the social media post, include Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in both first and third degrees, and Introducing a Controlled Substance into Another’s Body.
