Four-Year-Old Shares Packets of Heroin with Friends at Delaware Day Care

A four-year-old in Delaware was found sharing packets of heroin from her backpack, which she assumed were candy bags, at the Hickory Tree Child Care Center in Selbyville.

The Facebook page of the Delaware State Police published a statement following the incident that read:

"Troopers and medical personnel were called to the Hickory Tree Child Care Center located at 2 Hickory Tree Lane around 11:45 a.m. this morning after daycare providers observed some children with small bags of an unknown substance.

"The white powdery substance, which was still enclosed in the bags, was removed by the teachers and immediately taken to the Selbyville Police Department where it was determined to be heroin."

According to the child's mother, Ashley R. Tull, 30, the original backpack was replaced by the new one on Monday after being destroyed by the family pet on Sunday night.

Tull was taken into custody shortly after being interviewed, and charged with "maintaining a Drug Property and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child."

"None of the packets were opened by any of the kids," confirmed Master Corporal Gary E. Fournier, reported DelawareOnline.

However, a number of children who came in close contact with the candy-like heroin bags were taken to the area hospitals for examination. All of them were released the same day without any medical troubles.

The backpack contained an estimated 249 bags of heroin weighing 3.735 grams.

After posting a bond of $6000, Tull secured release, however, she was issued a no contact order and her three children remain in the custody of a relative.

Tull has three children; a 9-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and her 4-year-old girl who carried the backpack to the daycare.

According to the director of the state police's public information office, Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, detectives are still working on the case to investigate how the heroin bags landed in the child's backpack, and "charges are forthcoming."

Darlene Steerman Phillips commented on the state police's Facebook post saying, "Everyone is so worried about Ebola but stories like this scare me a lot more!"