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Pa. man charged in 9-year-old's apparent drug overdose

NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man was charged with child endangerment after police said a 9-year-old boy who was staying at his home died of an apparent drug overdose.

Point Township Police said Victor W. Hare III, 58, was aware the boy had used the prescription drug oxycodone and alcohol in the past yet allowed him to stay in his house with both alcohol and oxycodone "readily available."

Police said authorities were summoned to Hare's home in Northumberland, about 60 miles north of Harrisburg, on Monday on a report of a boy in cardiac arrest. They found the child with blood around his mouth and nose, and there was vomit on the bed.

Authorities said the boy and a stepbrother lived with their mother in Sunbury but had been staying overnight with Hare, a family friend.

Police said Hare told them the boy had a drug and alcohol problem. He said the boy's mother had dropped him off at Hare's the night before, and that they intended to ride a dune buggy together.

"The defendant advised that the victim told him he was using pills, ... marijuana and alcohol," police wrote. "Defendant said he heard this from the victim repeatedly over the last couple of weeks."

The police affidavit said the boy's stepbrother discovered the boy was not responsive and urged Hare to call 911, but Hare told him to wait.

When 911 was finally called — the document doesn't make clear who did it — the caller told a dispatcher "that the child took 'oxy' and was talking about 'oxy,'" police said.

Hare told police he performed CPR for about 40 minutes. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

Hare, who did not have a lawyer on file, was being held in lieu of $290,000 bail.

Hare also was charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. Police said he has multiple felony convictions, including burglary and escape. He was in the county jail on Tuesday, with bail at $290,000.

Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn said after an autopsy Tuesday that he found no medical reason for the boy's death. Lynn is awaiting test results and further investigation.

WPXI

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