In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 3-year-old child was found in distressing conditions in Mecca Township, Ohio. It was reported that the child’s parents, 35-year-old Amber Barry and 55-year-old Eddie Parthemer, were found dead on their porch, leading authorities to believe that this was a case of a suspected drug overdose.
Major Tony Villanueva of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office said, “Evidence from the residence at this point is leading us to believe that this is a possible overdose.”
The relative who checked in on the family made an emergency call and stated, “I’m sure they’re dead.” When deputies entered the residence, the child was found only wearing a diaper. The house had no heat, and it is believed that the child had been unsupervised for a period of 24 to 48 hours.
Autopsies are scheduled to take place to determine the exact cause of death. Villanueva commended the relative who made the call, 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 incident is similar to an event that happened in 2016, where two adults overdosed in a car while their 4-year-old son was in the backseat. A photograph of the scene was released as a warning about the dangers of opioid addiction.