July 31, 2011
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

SICK CHILD LEADS TO TWO CHILD ABUSE ARRESTS

 

A 2-year-old boy was in critical condition Saturday after apparently ingesting prescription medication he found in a home near Orange City. Kurt Vineis and Katrina Palmer were subsequently arrested for aggravated child abuse, child neglect and obstructing an officer without violence. The boy was originally taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City where it was discovered opiates were in his system. He was later transferred to Florida Hospital Orlando for further treatment.

 

Vineis and Palmer told deputies that they thought the boy was taking a nap when Vineis went to wake him up at about 1:48 p.m. The boy was found on the bed gasping for air while fading in and out of consciousness, and his teeth were clenched tightly together. They called 911, and EVAC ambulance paramedics and Volusia Sheriff's deputies responded to the house at 118 Hickory Ave. The boy was then taken to the local hospital by ambulance and later flown by Life Flight helicopter to Orlando.

 

Deputies asked Vineis and Palmer if they had prescription medication in the house, and they both repeatedly denied it. However, once it was found at the hospital that the boy had opiates in his system, deputies questioned the couple yet again. Palmer said that there was Xanax, but that was all. Deputies had searched the house, though, and didn't find the medication. Finally, Vineis admitted that there were prescription medications that had been stashed in the trunk of their car. Deputies found inside one bottle of Diazepam, one bottle of Alprazocam, one bottle of Carisoprodol, and four bottles of Oxycodone. All of the medications were prescribed to either Vineis or Palmer. The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate why they had so much prescription medication.

 

Vineis, 34, and Palmer, 31, were transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach without further incident. The child's condition on Sunday was good and he is expected to make a full recovery. The Florida Department of Children and Families will take custody of him.