A couple who lost four children in a Trenton house fire earlier this year is now facing child endangerment charges in a separate case.
Jamie Hughes, 26 and Timothy Hughes, 25 have each been charged with a misdemeanor in Livingston County for endangering the welfare of a child. Timothy was also charged with a felony for resisting or interfering with arrest. The charges were filed Oct. 6 in connection with their two other children who have since been taken into protective custody.
According to court documents the Chillicothe Police Department responded to the couple’s home in Chillicothe to assist the Department of Family Services on a hotline call for a welfare check.
Officer Jodi Huber said when he arrived Jamie and her 2-year-old son were asleep in the recliner in the living room.
“I walked into the bedroom with J. Hughes to retrieve information as to her son’s doctor,” Huber said.“Upon entering the bedroom I observed a hand rolled partially burnt cigarette on the floor next to the bed. I picked it up and smelled it; based on my training and experience I believed the cigarette to be marijuana.”
After a consented search of the house Officer Huber and Officer Josh Miller said they found burnt marijuana cigarettes in the living room, near the 9-year-old’s bed, and on a toy box.
“Three marijuana cigarettes were also found on a partition in the living room near where the two year old was sleeping,” Miller said.
“The marijuana cigarettes located were in the reach of both children living in the house,” Huber said.
Miller said both parents said they did not have money to provide necessary medications for the children.
“Officers located multiple prescriptions for Timothy, including Xanax and Tylenol with codeine,” Miller said. “It should be know that (one of the children) has breathing difficulties and the parents stated they were unable to purchase an inhaler for the child due to health insurance reasons.”
Miller said when he went to arrest Timothy he resisted.
When the Department of Family Services went to retrieve the two-year-old Miller said the child did not awaken from the loud noise of Timothy resisting and had to be woken up.
“Woke up in a dazed state and did not appear to be responding appropriately for a child of that age,” Miller said. “Bruises were found on the child’s body and it appeared that the child could have been under the influence of unknown medications.”
The Department of Family Services took the child to Hederick Medical Center for medical treatment and Officer Huber assisted the Department of Family Services worker with removing the other child from school.
Court documents recognize Timothy as the father and guardian to four children that were killed in a house fire in Trenton in May.
7-year-old Rosanna, 6-year-old Rolanda, 4-year-old Mason and their cousin 3-year-old Saylem were all trapped on the second floor when it caught fire. Five other people inside the house were able to escape. The fire was ruled accidental by the Missouri Fire Marshall’s Office.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jamie and Timothy for Oct. 21.