A Las Vegas couple is in jail after police say a 7-year-old child and the family’s small dog both tested positive for methamphetamine. The child was taken to Sunrise Hospital with symptoms of possible stimulant exposure and later placed in protective care.
Authorities arrested 36-year-old Brielle Biggs and 36-year-old Robert List last Tuesday after toxicology tests found meth in the child’s system and officers reported finding drugs and pills in the home. Both face drug and child-abuse allegations, and Biggs also faces an animal-abuse count after the dog tested positive and appeared lethargic, according to 8 News Now.
Where the Child Was Treated
The 7-year-old was evaluated and tested at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center describes its Maryland Parkway campus as a 24-hour acute-care and children’s facility that handles pediatric emergencies for the Las Vegas area.
Charges and Court Steps
Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Suzan Baucum set bail at $15,000 on February 4, according to 8 News Now. The outlet reports that both Biggs and List were booked on child-endangerment and drug-related counts, with Biggs additionally booked on an animal-abuse charge. Prosecutors are expected to decide on formal charges as detectives continue gathering evidence.
A Troubling Pattern
This is not the first time local authorities have confronted the fallout from children being exposed to methamphetamine and other hard drugs. In 2017, a 7-year-old Las Vegas boy was taken to the hospital after ingesting meth, a case documented by The Las Vegas Review-Journal. In a separate 2023 incident in Boulder City, local outlets reported that parents were arrested after an infant’s death was found to involve fentanyl and meth.
Those earlier cases, along with the latest allegations, highlight the recurring dangers that narcotics in homes pose to children and even pets, and the ongoing strain on emergency responders and child-welfare workers who are called in after the damage is already done.
Investigators and child-protection officials are still probing the circumstances around this most recent case. Biggs and List remain in custody as their case moves forward in Las Vegas Justice Court.
