Yellville, AR. – An in-home daycare owner was charged after two children under her watch got sick from eating marijuana gummies. 58-year-old Tamantha McPherson is charged with two counts of introduction of a controlled substance into the body of another and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
According to court documents, on April 3, 2024, the parents of a two-year-old girl had picked her up from McPherson’s residence, where they were in daycare, and noticed that she was acting off, and different from normal. When they took her to the hospital, doctors ran tests and told the parents the child had marijuana in her system. When they went to the authorities they told police that they did not keep marijuana in their home. The parents also stated that McPherson does not have permission to give the child any form of medication without their consent.
On April 5, 2024, authorities received another call about a second daycare victim. These parents stated, they picked up their 15-month-old boy from daycare, and he was acting off as well. After a blood test, they found that this boy also had marijuana in his system. They also told authorities they didn’t have marijuana in their house.
During an interview with McPherson, she told officers that she takes THC gummies, which she keeps in the kitchen. This is the same area where the daycare kids are eating and playing while there. There were eight kids at the residence during the time of the incident. McPherson also stated that she buys the gummies in Missouri and takes them back to Arkansas.
