An Auburn 2-year-old suffered a catastrophic brain injury after police say he was exposed to a drug called 7-OH, according to WPTA reporting on court records.
Police have charged 20-year-old Kole Schwarz with neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury. Court papers say Schwarz was the mother's live-in boyfriend at the time. The charge is an allegation and has not been proven in court.
Family members say the toddler was taken to a hospital in DeKalb County on Sept. 6, where an affidavit says he was unresponsive and placed in a medically induced coma. He was later transferred to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. Court papers say a specialized lab test found kratom-related drugs in his blood, and that a doctor found MRI evidence meeting the criteria for catastrophic injury.
Investigators say the child's mother told them she believed Schwarz used 7-OH products and was concerned the toddler may have ingested one. Detectives say Schwarz told them he bought tablets sold as 7-OH through a contact in Fort Wayne and that the tablets stayed sealed in his pocket.
Auburn police say the mother is not a suspect and has cooperated with the investigation. The child's grandmother, Josie Casebere, said the family does not know whether he will walk again and spoke publicly to raise awareness. The Food and Drug Administration describes 7-OH as a potent opioid concentrated from kratom and warns about products sold over the counter and online; WPTA reported the substance is illegal in Indiana.
