A heartbreaking case of suspected drug overdose took place in Mecca Township, Ohio, when a 3-year-old was found shivering and alone in deplorable conditions.
It was reported that 35-year-old Amber Barry and her 55-year-old boyfriend, Eddie Parthemer, had been discovered dead on their porch.
Major Tony Villanueva of the Trumbull Sheriff’s Office said, “Evidence from the residence at this point is leading us to believe that this is a possible overdose.”
A relative, who checked in on the family, made an emergency call and stated, “I’m sure they’re dead.” When the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office deputies entered the residence, they found the child wearing only a diaper.
Authorities said the residence had no heat, and it was believed that the boy had been alone in the home for 24 to 48 hours.
Autopsies were planned to take place to determine the cause of death. Villanueva praised the relative, saying that it was due to her “gut instinct” that the child was saved.
He said, “Luckily, a family member recognized that there was a problem. Didn’t hear from her family for a couple of days, went to check it out, and because of that gut instinct, she was able to save that boy’s life.”
The child is now with family members. This unfortunate incident is reminiscent of an event that occurred in Ohio in 2016, where two adults overdosed in a car while their 4-year-old son was in the back seat. The photograph of the scene was released as a warning about opioid addiction.