In a deeply disturbing case out of Westfield, Indiana, two 13-year-old middle school girls were hospitalized in September 2024 after swallowing methamphetamine allegedly brought from home by a fellow student. The first girl was found unresponsive during the school day and rushed to the hospital. She later told officials that she had taken meth given to her by her boyfriend — another 13-year-old student at the same school.
Soon after, a second girl showed similar symptoms and was also hospitalized.
Drugs Traced Back to Student’s Home
Following the incidents, Westfield police launched an immediate investigation. The drugs were traced to the home of the boy who provided them. What they discovered shocked investigators. Inside the home, officers found methamphetamine, glass smoking devices, and a white powder suspected to be fentanyl.
Even more alarming were the conditions the children were living in. Reports described exposed wiring, broken glass, rotting food, insect infestations, and black mold throughout the residence. Six children aged 3 to 17 were living in the home under these unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) removed all six children from the house and placed them into protective custody. To learn more about how DCS responds to child endangerment, visit the Indiana Department of Child Services.
Parents Plead Guilty, Receive Sentences
As a result of the investigation, both parents faced charges. The father pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and neglect of a dependent. He was sentenced to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction.
The mother also pleaded guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent and was sentenced to 545 days. Most of her sentence will be served on probation, with a requirement to participate in a court-approved drug treatment program.
Hamilton County prosecutors emphasized that this case reflects the serious risks children face when exposed to drug abuse at home.
Community Shocked, School District Responds
Westfield Police Chief Joel Rush condemned the situation in a public statement, calling it “one of the most heartbreaking child endangerment cases” in the community’s recent history. “Two children nearly died from drug exposure that came straight from their home. This is beyond criminal — it’s heartbreaking,” he said.
The Westfield-Washington School District has increased counseling and safety support in response to the incident. Officials confirmed that both girls who were hospitalized are now recovering and receiving mental health care.
Calls for Reform and Better Coordination
The incident has sparked renewed discussion around child welfare, school safety, and drug prevention. Local organizations are urging for more robust school-based awareness programs, mandatory home checks in high-risk cases, and better data sharing between schools and state agencies.
Advocates are also calling for an investigation into the family’s past interactions with Indiana’s child welfare system. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), which oversees several child and public health programs, is said to be reviewing the case internally. More information on Indiana public services can be found at the Indiana FSSA website.
A Wake-Up Call for Indiana and Beyond
This case has underscored the hidden dangers many children face — not from outside threats, but from within their own homes. As the legal system delivers justice, many in the Westfield community hope the tragedy will lead to more proactive protections for vulnerable children statewide.
