A father from Oregon has this week been accused of drugging three 12-year-old girls who were attending his own daughter's sleepover party last summer.
Michael Meyden turned himself into the police on Thursday 29 February, over six months since he allegedly dosed his daughter's friends' drinks with benzodiazepine.
According to Lake Oswego Police Department, the 57-year-old has since been indicted on nine felony and misdemeanour charges - including causing another individual to ingest a controlled substance - and was taken to Clackamas County Jail.
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He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Oregonian reported at the time that investigating officers were originally called to Randall Children’s Hospital on Saturday 26 August to speak to the three girls.
The youngsters - all 12 years old - were being treated by medics after believing they may have been drugged by their friend's father the evening prior.
They claim that, during their sleepover, Michael had been unusually involved in the evening's proceedings, consistently checking in on the foursome throughout the night.
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The girls later told authorities that he'd delivered them a batch of mango smoothies between 9 and 11pm, which appeared to have bizarre white chunks in.
Michael reportedly encouraged the girls to consume the drinks quickly, and even whipped them up a second batch when one of them admitted she wasn't keen on the taste.
Investigating officers later alleged that the probable affidavit was that Michael had drugged the girls, after the pre-teen that secretly didn't finish her drink said she witnessed him entering the room and performing tests on them to suss if they were sleeping.
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As reported by the Lake Oswego Review, she told investigating officers she saw her friend's father putting a finger under one of their noses and waving a hand in front of another's face.
She allegedly told police she could 'feel him watching her by his presence as she kept her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep'.
After she became aware that Michael had left the room at around 1.43am, the terrified youngster texted her mother, begging her to collect her from the property.
"Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency," the text read. "I don’t feel safe. I might not respond but please come get me (crying emoji), Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!!"
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The concerned mother reportedly then alerted the other girls' parents, all of whom arrived at the Meyden home to collect their daughters.
A surprised Michael then insisted the girls were sleeping and insisted the parents come back in the morning - a request which was ignored.
At the hospital, investigating officers claimed one of the girls 'walked slowly and used the assistance of her mother for balance, her eyelids were heavy, and she spoke slowly'.
Lake Oswego Police Department has since declared that Michael was 'responsible for the drugs detected in the girls' bloodstreams'.
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According to People Magazine, however, jail records obtained by the publication reportedly indicate that, as of Friday morning, he was no longer in custody.
The Oregonian also reported that his bail was set at $50,000.
Tyla contacted Lake Oswego Police Department for further comment.
Featured Image Credit: Clackamas County Distract Attorney’s Office/10'000 Hours/Getty ImagesTopics: Parenting, Crime, True Crime, US News, News