A 1-year-old staying at a Salisbury hotel tested positive for fentanyl this month, landing the child in the hospital and the parents in handcuffs. Police records show the medical emergency quickly turned into a criminal investigation, with child-protective services called in as authorities try to sort out how a toddler ended up exposed to a powerful synthetic opioid. Officials say the case remains under investigation while the child continues to receive medical care.
Records List Charges, Arrests and Bonds
According to Queen City News, arrest warrants identify the adults as Kathleen Faith Gibbs and Anthony Elijah Blue. Both are charged with neglectful child abuse causing serious bodily injury and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. The warrants and booking records state that Blue is being held on a $500,000 bond, while Gibbs is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Booked Into County Custody
Both adults are listed as being held at the Rowan County Detention Center in Salisbury, where the county provides public information about the jail roster and booking process. Family members and media looking for updates on custody status or records are typically directed to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office for those inquiries.
How Investigators Say It Unfolded
Per Queen City News, the York County Department of Social Services first notified Salisbury police, prompting investigators to seek arrest warrants. Records reviewed by reporters show that one arrest took place in Salisbury last Thursday and another in Fort Mill last Friday. The adult arrested in Fort Mill was then transferred to Rowan County, and the child was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Why Officials Are Alarmed
Health and law-enforcement agencies stress that fentanyl can be deadly even in trace amounts and that very young children are especially at risk. The DEA notes that as little as two milligrams can be lethal. North Carolina has seen a troubling rise in fentanyl-related pediatric cases and deaths in recent years, WUNC reports, a trend that has drawn heightened scrutiny from prosecutors and child-welfare agencies.
What Comes Next
Both defendants remain in custody as the criminal case moves through the courts. The charges are allegations, and the adults are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. Arraignment and future court dates will be scheduled through the Rowan County court system as the case proceeds.
