CINCINNATI – A judge called it “tragic.”
A mother and father overdosed in their 7-month-old’s room at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Thursday, killing the mom, 31-year-old MaryAnn Landers, according to police.
The dad, 32-year-old Wesley Landers of Trinity, Alabama, survived and police said they found a loaded handgun in his pocket.
Children’s Hospital has a policy – and a sign at the entrance – that guns are prohibited, except for uniformed police.
“At Cincinnati Children’s, patient safety is a top priority and taken very seriously,” the hospital said in a statement. “We are committed to doing everything we can to care for and protect the children and families we serve. We have trained and experienced security personnel at all of our campuses. We have a Cincinnati Police officer at the main location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cincinnati Children's also has longstanding and positive relationships with local police departments at all campus locations.”
Also, investigators said Landers didn’t have a permit for the gun. He was charged with carrying concealed weapons, having weapons while under disability and possession of drugs, as police said they found three syringes for heroin on him.
Landers’ attorney, Christopher Kapsal, said Landers never intended to use the gun.
Judge Curt Kissinger set Landers' bond at $500,000 with a 10 percent option.
"If the heroin epidemic has exhibited itself in a more tragic form, I haven't' seen it," Kissinger said. "I hope to never see this type of case again."
This wasn’t Landers’ first gun-related charge. According to WAAY, the ABC affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama, Landers pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit in 2008.
