An Oregon man drugged three of his daughter’s friends staying at his home for a sleepover, police say.
Michael Meyden, 57, allegedly laced mango smoothies with the sleeping aid benzodiazepine then handed them out to the three 12-year-old girls sleeping over at his daughter’s house in August 2023.
The drug is generally given to treat panic attacks and insomnia.
According to court documents, Meyden repeatedly went down to the basement to watch the girls sleep, at various points putting his finger under a girl’s nose and waving his hand in front of her face to assure himself she was sleeping.
However, one of the girls did manage to remain awake enough to text her mom just before 2 a.m.
“Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency.
I don’t feel safe. I might not respond but please come get me. Please. Please pick up. Please. Please!!” the frantic text read.
When she couldn’t rouse her parents, she managed to contact a family friend who picked her up, brought her home, and awakened her parents.
The other two girls attending the sleepover were retrieved by their parents around 3 a.m.
Meyden allegedly did not want to let the other girls’ parents into his home, saying their daughters were asleep, but eventually relented, allowing the girls to be taken home.
All three girls tested positive for benzodiazepine.
Meyden pled not guilty Wednesday to a number of charges including causing another person to ingest a controlled substance.