3.5-year-old Kacper took methamphetamine before his death. Indictment filed against boy’s father

Three-and-a-half-year-old Kacper B. drowned on April 27, 2020, in the Kwisa River in Nowogrodziec. The Jelenia Góra District Prosecutor’s Office:

The extensive evidence gathered during the investigation made it possible to charge the suspect under Article 160, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Penal Code. In particular, it was established that [...] on April 27, 2020, in Nowogrodziec—contrary to his duty to care for the 3.5-year-old minor Kacper B.—he failed to fulfill the obligations arising from that duty by leaving a psychotropic substance in the form of methamphetamine in a place accessible to the minor, which resulted in the child taking an amount that would have caused him to become intoxicated, and by leaving the child alone without anyone’s care or supervision near allotment gardens, in a place located close to a steep embankment and the Kwisa River, thereby exposing the minor to an immediate danger of loss of life or serious bodily harm; consequently, the child died as a result of drowning.

At the same time, Rafał B. was under the influence of a substance acting similarly to alcohol, with amphetamine and methamphetamine in his blood.

Investigators add:

During the procedures carried out, including the child’s autopsy and subsequent histopathological and toxicological examinations, it was established that the cause of death was drowning. It was also established that psychotropic substances in the form of methamphetamine were present in the child’s blood and stomach. According to experts, the substances were taken orally by the child a relatively short time before death, and he may have experienced psychophysical disturbances corresponding to a state following use of the substance. If the entire substance had been absorbed from the stomach into the blood—which did not occur because of the child’s death—it would have caused intoxication.

It should be noted that the same substance was detected in the suspect’s blood, and he had it on the allotment-garden premises, where he was with the child immediately before the drowning.

B. faces a sentence of between three months and as much as five years in prison.

In addition, the suspect was charged with driving a motor vehicle on April 27 while under the influence of a substance acting similarly to alcohol, as well as supplying another person—at least six times—with psychotropic substances in the form of methamphetamine.

The suspect admitted to all the charges.