A 15-month-old child in Union County was rushed to a hospital for evaluation after medical staff and investigators determined methamphetamine was in the toddler's system. The child's mother, 22-year-old Bailey Smith, is now facing a charge of negligent child abuse inflicting serious physical injury and was booked on a $250,000 bond. Investigators say Smith and her boyfriend, 23-year-old James Kisiah, exposed the child to meth. Kisiah was later found in Lancaster County, South Carolina, and is awaiting extradition back to North Carolina.
Investigators: Meth Detected And Arrests Followed
According to WCNC, hospital staff discovered meth in the toddler's system, which immediately triggered an investigation by the Union County Sheriff's Office. Smith was arrested on the negligent child abuse charge, and deputies then secured warrants for Kisiah. WCNC reports that Kisiah was located in Lancaster County and is being held there while extradition paperwork is processed.
Charges And What They Carry In North Carolina
Negligent child abuse that results in serious physical injury can be prosecuted under N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-318.4. The law treats serious harm to a child as a felony, and it allows prosecutors to pursue prison sentences that vary based on how severe the injury is and how serious the defendant's conduct appears to be. Prosecutors in cases like this typically rely on medical findings and investigative reports when deciding whether to file higher-level felony counts or add more charges.
Why Meth Exposure Is Especially Dangerous For Infants
Medical reviews indicate that methamphetamine exposure can trigger acute symptoms in infants, including breathing problems, seizures and intense agitation, according to a toxicology review in MDPI. Researchers have also linked prenatal or environmental meth exposure to potential growth and developmental issues. Case reports and toxicology studies underscore both the immediate danger to very young children and the risks of living in homes where meth is used or manufactured, which is why investigators treat suspected pediatric exposure as an emergency situation.
The Union County Sheriff's Office has said the investigation is ongoing as detectives work to determine how the child came into contact with meth, and the outlet reports that anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff's office. As noted by WCNC, officials have not released further details about the circumstances or the exact location where the child was found.
All of the allegations remain unproven at this stage. Smith and Kisiah are presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty in court. The child is under medical care, and county child-welfare officials are involved as the investigation moves forward.
