Mother charged with felony after newborn tests positive for meth and she tests positive for drugs, tries to leave Corinth hospital without child.
Whitley Bates had tested positive for methamphetamine among other drugs and had left the hospital without being discharged and without her baby. The newborn also tested positive for methamphetamine. Bates was arrested for a felony child abuse charge that includes neglect and endangerment regarding the presence of dangerous drugs.
From Corinth PD:
**Felony Child Endangerment Charge**
Suspect: Whitley Bates
Charge: Child Abuse with the Presence of Dangerous Drugs
On 01/19/23, Corinth Police Department was notified by Child Protective Services regarding a baby that had just been born at Magnolia Regional Health Center. CPS informed us that the mother, Whitley Bates, had tested positive for methamphetamine among other drugs and had left the hospital without being discharged and without her baby. The newborn also tested positive for methamphetamine. Bates was arrested for a felony child abuse charge that includes neglect and endangerment regarding the presence of dangerous drugs. Det. Swindle will present this case to an Alcorn County Grand Jury.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
