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Marion woman charged with felony after child tests positive for narcotics

Marion woman charged with felony after child tests positive for narcotics

Kayla Ann Russell, 35, of Marion, N.C. Photo: Contributed/McDowell County Sheriff's Office


MARION, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Kayla Ann Russell, 35, was charged with a felony after children in her care tested positive for narcotics.

On May 22, Detective Billie Brown of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office received word from the McDowell County Department of Social Services about the neglect of children in Russell’s care.

The subsequent investigation “confirmed allegations against Russell,” the MCSO said, “including the use of illegal drugs around the children, which also led to some of the children testing positive for narcotics.”

Brown charged Russell with felony for exposing a child to a controlled substance. She was issued a $30,000 secured bond and detained at the McDowell County Detention Center, where she was found to be in possession of a suspected amount of fentanyl by Detention Lieutenant Andrew Loudermilk. She was subsequently charged by Deputy Tre Spearman with felony possession of fentanyl and felony possession of a controlled substance on jail premises.

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