On Thursday, February 29, 2024 Michael Meyden, 57, turned himself into Lake Oswego Police in Oregon. He is accused of drugging three 12-year-old girls who were friends with his daughter and spending the night at his home. He faces nine felony and misdemeanor charges. One of these is causing another to ingest a controlled substance.
He was taken to Clackamas County Jail but has been released on $50,000 bail. It is not known at this time if he has secured a defense attorney. It is also not known when he is scheduled to appear in court.
Police began investigating this alleged crime at Randall Children’s Hospital in August 2023 according to a probable cause affidavit. Three girls were patients at the hospital. They believed their friend’s dad spiked their smoothies. The girls told police that Meyden paid a little too much attention to them that night.
The girls went on to say that sometime between 9 and 11 p.m., Meyden served them mango smoothies. These treats appeared to have white chunks in them. One girl didn’t like the taste so he made her another one. He was pretty insistent that they drink them. Investigators believe the white chunks were actually benzodiazepine, which can cause drowsiness.
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One of the girls did not finish her smoothie. She was more alert than her friends. She pretended to be asleep while Meyden came in to check on the girls. She sent her mom a text asking to be picked up at 1:43 a.m.
“Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency,” her text pleaded. “I don’t feel safe. I might not respond but please come get me , Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!!”
Her mom jumped into action. She also alerted the parents of the other girls. When the concerned parents arrived at Meyden’s home, he tried to turn them away, telling them to come back in the morning. They insisted on taking their kids home.
When the police were called to the hospital they noticed the girls’ impairment. One of the preteens “walked slowly and used the assistance of her mother for balance, her eyelids were heavy, and she spoke slowly.” The police determined that Meyden was responsible for this.