Two mothers are in jail in Jones County after being charged with child abuse following the births of their babies who tested positive for methamphetamine.

Kelly Baldridge, 24 years old, of Ellisville was arrested and charged with one count of child abuse involving her newborn baby

Summer Myrick, 24 years old, of Laurel was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse involving her twin newborn babies.

Both Baldridge and Myrick are currently incarcerated at the Jones County Adult Detention Facility pending their initial appearance in Jones County Justice Court.  Child Protective Services forwarded referral packets on both mothers following the births of the three babies, all of whom tested positive for meth in their systems. All three babies are now in CPS protective custody.

JCSD Criminal Investigations Division Investigator Sgt. J.D. Carter notes, “If parents continue to use and expose their kids to drugs, then we will come for you. The pity party is over when I’m knocking on your door.”

Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin concludes, “There  is absolutely no excuse for these babies to be born with illegal narcotics in their systems. We have zero tolerance for this type of criminal behavior.”