(La Porte, IN) - A $16,000 cash only bond has been set for a LaPorte woman accused in the drug overdose of her 18 month old child.  Lily Mae Allen, 22, is charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony neglect of a dependent.

 

During her initial hearing Friday, Judge Tom Alevizos set the bail amount and appointed a public defender to represent her against the allegations after ruling she is not able to afford private legal counsel.

 

According to court documents, emergency responders Tuesday found the toddler shaking, vomiting and experiencing irregular breathing in a home in the 300 block of Oberreich Street on the city’s east side.  The child was taken to Northwest Health in LaPorte and tested positive for methamphetamine, police said.

 

Police said the toddler was later released from the hospital and placed into the care of an Indiana Department of Child Services case worker.  Exactly how the methamphetamine wound up in the blood stream of the child was not revealed.

 

Police said Allen gave conflicting stories but one she told the most involved her leaving the child alone inside the home of a cousin on Roosevelt Street to step outside and smoke marijuana.

 

Later, Allen went to the home of a friend expressing concern about the well-being of the child who she described as “acting strange,” according to court documents.  The investigation shows Allen left to get food thinking the child would be okay after having something to eat, police said.  However, she returned believing her child was overdosing on methamphetamine, court documents revealed.

 

Police said Allen called several people in an attempt to find someone to bring her a drug test for the child.  She then called 911.

 

The LaPorte woman could face anywhere from a one to six year sentence.