THREE CHARGED AFTER DRUGS FOUND WITHIN TOT’S REACH
Drug paraphernalia found steps away from child’s toy.
BOYNTON BEACH — Three people face child-neglect charges after authorities found heroin and drug paraphernalia “well within reach of (a) 3-year-old” in a home west of Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office reports state.
Kay Hanna, 68; Kristine Schreckengost, 42; and Jeffrey Hanna, 38, were arrested Tuesday after authorities at the sheriff ’s office and the Florida Department of Children and Families entered their home in Lake Charleston Place off Jog Road because they were concerned about the toddler inside.
The three adults repeatedly had refused to let a child-welfare investigator inside the home, so the investigator returned with a motion to compel from a Palm Beach County judge and sheriff ’s authorities.
Jeffrey Hanna and Schreckengost told authorities they are “longtime drug users” who openly used drugs in the home they shared with the 3-year-old.
The toddler’s relationship with the adults is redacted from sheriff ’s office records. Kay Hanna, who owns the home, is Jeffrey’s mother, records show.
An open garbage bag in a hallway had small plastic bags and cut straws containing white residue inside it. A sheriff ’s report notes that the bag was “well within reach of the 3-year-old.”
Schreckengost told authorities she was cleaning the house. The bags were old heroin bags she was throwing out, she said.
Authorities found more bags with what appeared to be heroin residue in them next to the toddler’s toy dump truck on a bedroom floor.
Schreckengost took a urine test, which showed positive results for cocaine, opioids and oxycodone in her system.
Records indicate sheriff ’s authorities knew of drug activity in the home since at least June, when they spoke to Jeffrey Hanna. He admitted to using drugs and said he struggled with addiction. It is unclear whether the child lived in the home at that time. He faces drug charges in that investigation.
A judge ordered the three adults not have contact with the child. They are on supervised release and must undergo random testing for drugs and alcohol.
The child is living with a relative, sheriff’s office records state.