Mom Charged After Son, 11, Overdoses On Prescription Drug
KITTANNING, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A woman is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge after authorities say her 11-year-old overdosed on the woman's methadone.
Bobbie Jo Truckley was arraigned on Thursday. Court records show the 36-year-old Armstrong County woman has been released on $10,000 unsecured bond.
State police say Dustin Truckley Jr. was found on Dec. 18 in his Madison Township bedroom, about 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Two empty methadone bottles were found in his room.
An autopsy and toxicology test found he overdosed on the prescription painkiller.
"He's considered a naive user. He'd probably never used it before and didn't know what it was," said Armstrong Co. Coroner Brian Myers.
Documents show that Bobbie Jo Truckley admitted the methadone belonged to her and that she kept some in a bottle for her "bad days."
Methadone is used for pain or to help combat narcotics addiction. Last year 29 people died from drug overdoses in Armstrong County, Dustin Truckley Jr. was the youngest.
Court records don't list an attorney for Truckley, who doesn't have a listed phone. She refused to speak to KDKA on Friday.
The Coroner hopes that the tragedy will teach people to keep pills out of reach of children.
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