A Newton County woman, 25-year-old Carissa Breedlove of Jasper, is being held on felony charges of introduction of a controlled substance into the body of another person, after investigators say she and her husband exposed their four children to second-hand methamphetamine.A probable cause affidavit filed Oct. 11 identified Breedlove’s husband as 37-year-old Brian Holzheimer. Holzheimer’s charges mirror those of his wife’s.According to the probable cause affidavit filed in Holzheimer’s case, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death of a six-week-old baby in mid May. The baby’s parents were drug tested by their probation officer after the incident.
Both tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as other substances. The couple had three other children living in their home. The three other children were removed by Department of Human Services officers the same day.
The three children under the care of DHS were taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock where hair follicle drug tests were administered.
The three, age 8, 2 and 16-months, all tested positive for amphetamines and methamphetamine. A post-mortem blood draw of the deceased 6-week-old baby also tested positive for the two drugs.
Based on the positive results in both adults in the home, as well as the testing outcomes for the four children, it was concluded the children were subjected to second-hand methamphetamine exposure.
The conclusion was supported by the fact the children did not go to school or some form of daycare, thus spending more time in the home, tested with a higher level of the drugs in their systems.
It was also noted the methamphetamine exposure was listed as a contributing factor in the cause of death in the infant.
Bonds for the two were set at $50,000 each.
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