Dad charged with giving "date rape" drug to 5-month-old son and beating him (Tacoma, Washington)

Notice that there is mention of the baby's grandparents, but zero mention of the mother. What happened to Mom?

Dad is identified as SCOTT RASMUS.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/tacoma-father-charged-drugging-baby/ngnxn/

Tacoma father charged with drugging baby

By Kevin McCarty

TACOMA, Wash. — A Tacoma father has been charged with assault of a child for allegedly putting opiates and a powerful date rape drug in the feeding bottle of his 5-month-old son.

Scott Rasmus, 34, pleaded not guilty to third-degree child assault and unlawful possession of a firearm during an appearance in Pierce County Superior Court on Friday. Prosecutors said his son showed signs of abuse and was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in late February suffering what doctors called a life-threatening event.

“This is one of those crimes that just defy explanation,” said Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist. “The baby was beaten, had broken ribs and the baby was drugged.”

According to a probable cause affidavit the boy tested positive for opiates. Further toxicology testing determine he also had the drug ketamine in his bloodstream. Traces of ketamine were also found in his baby bottle.

Ketamine is a powerful sedative with amnesiac effects that is sometimes used as a date rape drug.

“Luckily the baby survived. There’s no way of knowing yet what kind of long -term adverse consequences there might be, but at this point things look good,” said Lindquist.

The boy’s grandparents told KIRO 7 he was in good health and appears to have made a full recovery.