NORRISTOWN >> A Lower Salford mother has admitted to charges that she introduced her teenage daughter to heroin and injected the girl with the dangerous drug during trips to Philadelphia.
Patricia Sue Davenport, 36, whose last known address was in the first block of Montgomery Drive, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of endangering the welfare of children, possession with intent to deliver heroin and a conspiracy-related charge in connection with incidents that occurred over a six month period in 2014. Judge William R. Carpenter deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Davenport.
Davenport, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, faces a possible maximum sentence of 13 1/2 to 27 years in prison on the charges. As conditions of bail, Davenport is prohibited from having contact with her 15-year-old daughter. However, she can have visits with her 8-year-old son but only under the supervision of county Children and Youth Services officials.
Assistant District Attorney Kathleen McLaughlin vowed to seek state prison time against Davenport.
“This is one of the worst things I’ve seen. Our children literally come with nothing and we have to show them everything. Anything they become is part of what we teach them. Providing your child, the person you’re supposed to love and nurture, one of the most addictive drugs is one of the most egregious things a parent can do,” McLaughlin alleged.
The judge set Davenport’s sentencing hearing for Dec. 17.
Davenport’s friend, Megan Michelle Rudolph, 26, of the 300 block of South Fourth Street, North Wales, previously pleaded guilty to identical charges, essentially admitting that she too placed the teenage girl in danger by assisting Davenport in obtaining heroin for the girl. Rudolph, who was slated to be a witness against Davenport if Davenport went to trial, faces a sentencing hearing next month.
With the charges, authorities alleged Davenport and Rudolph took Davenport’s 15-year-old daughter and the daughter’s 16-year-old boyfriend, on several trips each week to Philadelphia to purchase heroin. After purchasing the drugs, Davenport, Rudolph and the two juveniles would use the drugs in the car on the way back to Lower Salford, authorities alleged. The incidents allegedly took place on multiple occasions during a six month period.
The investigation revealed that Davenport and Rudolph met in April 2014 and allegedly snorted heroin together at Davenport’s home. On one occasion, according to the arrest affidavit, Davenport offered her teenage daughter heroin in the kitchen and the girl snorted heroin for the first time while Davenport and Rudolph were present.
The teenage girl disclosed to authorities that the drug use escalated during the summer, resulting in “near-daily trips” to Seventh and Russell streets in Philadelphia to buy drugs, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Dirk Boughter. During the trips, Davenport and Rudolph were often accompanied by the 15-year-old girl, her 16-year-old boyfriend and Davenport’s 8-year-old son, according to court documents.
The 8-year-old was not provided any drugs but he allegedly observed Davenport with a syringe and asked her about it, according to the arrest affidavit. Davenport and Rudolph also were charged with child endangerment in relation to allegedly exposing the 8-year-old to drug activity.
Child social service officials are involved in the case. The children, authorities said, are now in the care and custody of other individuals.
The 15-year-old girl and her 16-year-old boyfriend each was interviewed by authorities, court papers indicate. The boy told authorities he “was present on numerous occasions” when Davenport and Rudolph both purchased heroin, cocaine and OxyContin in Philadelphia and supplied the drugs to the teenagers, according to arrest documents. In the arrest affidavit, authorities, based on statements made by the teenage girl, alleged Davenport also injected her daughter with heroin on more than one occasion during the car rides back from Philadelphia.
The investigation began when an unidentified student at Souderton Area High School informed a guidance counselor about the 15-year-old girl using drugs supplied by Davenport, according to the arrest affidavit. The 15-year-old girl subsequently was examined Sept. 3, 2014, by the school nurse, who noted “possible needle marks” on the girl’s forearm.
School officials immediately contacted law enforcement authorities and cooperated with the investigation.
