A father from Oregon stands accused of a disturbing crime: drugging three 12-year-old girls during his daughter’s sleepover party last summer. Michael Meyden, aged 57, turned himself into the police last Thursday, over six months after allegedly dosing his daughter’s friends’ smoothies with benzodiazepine, a drug commonly used to treat insomnia and panic attacks.
The incident occurred on August 26th of the previous year at Meyden’s residence in Lake Oswego
Meyden had invited his daughter’s three friends over and served them mango smoothies between 9 and 11 pm. The smoothies, later described as having “tiny white chunks throughout and sprinkled on top,” contained the alleged drug.
According to the Lake Oswego Police Department, Meyden faces nine felony and misdemeanor charges, including causing another individual to ingest a controlled substance. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Police have refrained from speculating publicly about the motive behind Meyden’s actions.
The gravity of the situation became apparent when one of the 12-year-old girls sent a distressing text to her mother during the sleepover, just before 2 am. In the message, she implored her mother to pick her up, expressing feelings of insecurity and fear. The urgent tone of the message and the subsequent actions taken by the girl’s family underline the severity of the situation.
Upon consuming the smoothies, the girls reported feeling various adverse effects
One girl described feeling “woozy, hot, and clumsy” before eventually blacking out and falling into a deep sleep. Another girl, who did not finish her drink, observed Meyden entering the room and conducting tests to check if the girls were asleep.
The swift action taken by the concerned mother, who alerted the other girls’ parents and arranged for their immediate retrieval, likely prevented further harm to the girls. Meyden’s alleged encouragement for the girls to consume the drinks quickly and his subsequent behavior, as reported by one of the witnesses, paints a disturbing picture of the events that transpired that night.
This incident has understandably caused shock and outrage within the community
Parents are grappling with the unsettling realization that such a disturbing event could occur seemingly out of nowhere. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and ensuring the safety of children, even in seemingly familiar environments.
Furthermore, it raises questions about the adequacy of existing safeguards and regulations concerning the handling and distribution of controlled substances. Authorities may need to reassess protocols to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
In light of these developments, parents and guardians must remain vigilant and maintain open communication channels with their children. Encouraging children to speak up about any discomfort or unusual occurrences, no matter how trivial they may seem, can potentially avert dangerous situations.
As the legal proceedings unfold and more details emerge, the community must come together to support the affected families and ensure that justice is served. The well-being and safety of our children must always remain paramount, and incidents like these serve as sobering reminders of the need for constant vigilance and proactive measures to protect them.