3-month-old infant dies while with "caretaking" drug addict father (Wayne, West Virginia)

A familiar story. The baby's mother had to work (too bad we don't have decent maternity leaves in this country, so the mothers of 3-month-old infants wouldn't have to work). So the baby's useless daddy, DELTON SHANE COLLINS, an OxyContin snorter, was drafted into caretaking duty. Daddy apparently didn't figure this was much of a burden, as he didn't bother to even check on the baby for 8 whole hours. So now Dad is charged with felony child neglect in connection with the baby's death.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x1153713376/Document-details-events-prior-to-child-s-death

Document details events prior to infant’s death

December 14, 2009 @ 09:49 AM
CURTIS JOHNSON

The Herald-Dispatch

WAYNE — A father has been charged with felony child neglect resulting in death in what court documents relate to drug use and lack of supervision of a three-and-a-half-month-old infant in Wayne County.

The criminal complaint charges that Delton Shane Collins, 30, told police he went to his vehicle and snorted Roxycontin, also know as OxyContin, on Friday, moments before Collins’ mother realized there was “something wrong” with the infant.

Collins then called 911 at 3:36 p.m. Friday, but two medical professionals found evidence stating the infant had died hours earlier. The complaint states Collins was to be watching the infant, while its mother worked.

“Collins states that he never picked the infant up anytime between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” the complaint states. “He also states that he did not check the infant’s diaper between that time frame.”

The infant’s grandmother, also known as Collins’ mother, reportedly fed the infant at 11 a.m. She then left and returned at 2 p.m., the complaint states.

Collins told police, according to the complaint, that he believes the infant died shortly after the 11 a.m. feeding. The complaint states that Collins’ mother had worked all night and had very little sleep in the 48 hours prior to her son’s arrest.

The infant’s body was sent to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Collins voluntarily submitted to a drug test. Its result showed use of opiates and oxycodone.

The failed drug test, coupled with a conversation between Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Child Protective Services and the coroner, led to the child neglect charge and Collins’ arrest.