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Lawrence parents charged after 1-year-old exposed to fentanyl

LAWRENCE, Mass. — The parents of a 1-year-old girl in Lawrence who was exposed to fentanyl have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking, among other charges.

According to authorities, the child was admitted to Lawrence General Hospital on Monday afternoon after testing positive for fentanyl.

Both of the girl's parents, Pererya McDanner , 27, and Jennifer Ouch, 27, were interviewed by Lawrence Police detectives and DCF investigators after bringing her to the emergency room after an unknown round pill was found in her mouth.

McDanner told police the family went to Launch Trampoline on Saturday and then to Target where she found the pill.

McDanner and Ouch's stories matched up when police interviewed them, but say when they talked to the girl's 6-year-old brother, they heard a different story. He told police his sister remained in the cart at Target the whole time and put the pill in her mouth at home. That's when he says his father told his mother to take her to the hospital.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for their Osgood Street home. During the search, officials found a variety of narcotics and ammunition inside the home, including two bags of fentanyl. The couple did not have a license to carry a firearm or an FID card.

Both were arrested and charged with drug trafficking and illegal possession of ammunition. They were arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Tuesday where they were ordered held without bail.

The couple's children are currently in DCF custody.

Medical personnel say the 1-year-old girl is expected to be okay.