The parents of a two-month-old found unresponsive in a travel camper in August have been indicted on felony drug charges.
Meanwhile, the baby boy’s death remains under investigation as police await final toxicology results from an out-of-state forensics lab. Authorities have said previously that they found no initial signs of foul play in the camper at 54 Penacook St., where the family was staying this past summer.
Bradford Ross and Kayla Austin each face five charges – three felonies and two misdemeanors – in Merrimack County Superior Court in Concord. Those are as follows: one count each of possession of methamphetamine, possession of amphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, as well as two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child.
Prosecutors say Austin, 20, whose last known address is Concord, and Ross, 24, whose last known address is Laconia, kept methamphetamine near where the baby boy and a 2-year-old girl slept. Police have declined to say whether the two children were siblings.
Authorities responded to the home at 54 Penacook St. on Aug. 1 after receiving a report of an infant who was unconscious and not breathing. While on scene, police said they observed drug paraphernalia inside the camper, and as a result sought a search warrant.
Detectives executed that search warrant the next day and seized approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine, which was packaged in baggies and appeared to be for sale, according to now-retired Concord police Lt. Tim O’Malley. They also found amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and marijuana, as well as scales, plastic packaging, ledgers and receipts, he said previously.
The judge sealed arrest affidavits and related search warrants Aug. 5, the day after Concord police took Ross and Austin into custody. Assistant city prosecutor Jacqueline Blanchard filed the motion to seal, arguing the early disclosure of the information could compromise an ongoing investigation.
(Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 369-3319, adandrea@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @_ADandrea.)