Bullitt County father facing charges after 4-year-old's 'near fatal overdose'
A Bullitt County father is behind bars, facing multiple charges related to a crime that put his young son in the hospital.
A Bullitt County father is behind bars, facing multiple charges related to a crime that put his young son in the hospital.
A Bullitt County father is behind bars, facing multiple charges related to a crime that put his young son in the hospital.
Austin Weisinger was arrested this week on charges including unlawful transaction with a minor and wanton endangerment.
Hillview police said his son, 4, ingested drugs at their home, not far from Preston Highway, and had to be rushed to the emergency room.
"I knew it was bad right away. The Pediatric Protection Services down at Norton's, they classified this as a near-death overdose," Hillview police detective Chris Boone told WLKY.
According to court documents, on July 28, the boy became unresponsive during bath time and then began vomiting uncontrollably for an hour before his parents took him to Norton Children's Hospital. At the time, the mother told doctors she believed the child had gotten into a neighbor's seizure medication.
The child has since been removed from the home but remained with the family, according to police.
Eventually, according to police, Weisinger, who tested positive for meth, changed his story, admitting he was a user but never left his drugs out.
Police say, based on testing done at the hospital, that's not the case.
"The test showed the current medical state he was in was an immediate reaction to something that was going on, and the hair follicle showed that there's been prolonged environmental exposure at some point," Boone said.
Boone said Weisinger has sought treatment, and he is hoping his arrest is not only a wake-up call to him but others.
"Parents who have these issues have really got to take stock in their life and get help and be responsible with what their issue is so they don't victimize their child," he said.
Weisinger remains behind bars on a $100,000 bond and is expected back in court Tuesday.