Girls test positive for cocaine; mother charged

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) - A southeast Missouri woman is charged with three counts of child endangerment after her three daughters tested positive for cocaine.

The Southeast Missourian (http://bit.ly/zyGRxP) reports that 31-year-old Brooke Whitener of Cape Girardeau is free on bond after being arrested New Year's Day, after her infant daughter was rushed to a hospital with seizures and a high fever. Police say the hospital's drug screening revealed traces of cocaine.

Police say Whitener's two older daughters, ages 12 and 14, then also tested positive for cocaine.

Whitener told police she believed the youngest child found and ingested cocaine while playing outside with the older girls. Police say Whitener refused a drug test request and refused to allow police to search her home.

The children are in protective custody.

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Information from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com

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