WESTOVER — A 2-year-old boy suffered a stroke after taking medication belonging to his grandmother.
The grandmother was arrested for leaving the toddler home alone, when he took the prescription pills last month, police said.
The boy was taken to the hospital, where he suffered the stroke.
Donna L. Snow, 62, of Westover is charged with child neglect resulting in serious injury.
Westover Police responded to the Eric Street home on March 3 for a reported overdose. When officers arrived, they found Snow holding the baby, Chief Rick Panico said.
Snow left her grandson home alone while she went to get food, according to a criminal complaint. While she was gone, the 2-year-old got into a pill bottle and took an unknown amount of clonidine, a blood pressure medication, and hydrochlorothiazide, a water pill.
Panico said the baby was drifting in-and-out of consciousness. Officers attempted to keep him awake and performed CPR until an ambulance crew arrived, he said.
Snow was not able to give the child’s name and hospital records were subpoenaed to get his identity, Panico said.
Snow’s grandson was taken to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he “coded numerous times and also suffered a stroke.” On Friday, the child was not listed as a patient at Ruby, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The Dominion Post is not identifying the child for his privacy.
Snow faces one to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of $300-$3,000, if convicted.
She was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court before Magistrate Tim Pocius, who set bond at $10,000. Snow is being held in North Central Regional Jail.
