There's crack in the car and her pupils are really constricted and she's cold. >> The inside of that van is 1,000°. They're both sweaty and you guys are passed out. You're both getting charged with injuring children. >> Monday, June 6th, 2022, Monroe, Ohio. What began as a simple welfare check on a parked vehicle quickly revealed a situation far more serious than any officer would expect on a quiet summer afternoon. Behind what appeared to be just two unconscious adults was a chain of decisions tied to a crisis that has been eroding the stability of communities like this one for years. What officers were about to discover would expose not only the collapse of two caregivers under the weight of addiction, but the extreme danger faced by the children who depended on them. And although the scene drew immediate concern, the conditions that led to that moment had been set long before that day in June. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. Get your daily dose of crime every single day at 300 p.m. Eastern and we're turning it up two videos per day. Don't miss a single moment and tune in. >> Lyn Steven, >> there's two occupants in here. both slumped over. Open the door. >> What's going on? >> All right. What's in your lap right there? >> Here. Put that on the dashboard. >> Take that baggie of that's in your lap and put it on the dashboard. Right there in your lap. Put it on the dashboard. >> That's not the dashboard. Whatever. Get out. >> All right. What else do you have on you? >> Hey, baby. >> 55. Yeah. Go ahead and start a squad. They're both speaking now. >> Do what? >> Yeah, I would recommend doing that. >> I was just asking >> here. Put your hands up here. Do you have any needles on you that's going to poke me, stick me? >> She's Hey, she's she's getting a bottle for >> this up here. Put your hands behind your back for right now. You're being detained. All right. The intervention didn't begin when officers arrived. It started when a passing driver noticed the vehicle sitting in the sun and two adults who were not responding. That welfare check was enough to trigger an urgent response on a day when the heat could turn any delay into an emergency. As units were dispatched, the system confirmed the names associated in the vehicle. Justin E. Simpson Jr., age 48, and Stephanie L. Sandlin, aged 29. Both with histories linked to substance use. What the officers still didn't know was that the scene they were heading toward was the result of a recent and severe relapse, one that left both adults incapable of supervising the children inside the van. The period of incapacity before police arrival is what begins to raise critical questions. How long the vehicle had been stopped, the condition of the children, and how much risk had accumulated before anyone intervened. For the responding officers, the initial question was not why the adults were unconscious, but what had taken place outside of the caller's view. Reconstructing that unseen window of time would be essential for determining both a level of neglect and the gravity of the case. >> Turn around and lean up against the car. Is this your wallet? Going back here by the cruise. >> I want to get my bottle. He won't let me get you. You can wait a minute. >> We will in a minute. Yes, you were. It's on your lap. >> Earl Simpson Jun out of Middletown. She's suspended. Look out. Yes. >> Step back there. >> He had a bag of on his lap when we woke up. >> It was >> He tossed it in between the seats. So, we're going to do some digging to get it out. >> Still sitting there >> on the side. It's still sitting there. >> Where? >> Right there on the driver's side. On the driver's side. It's still sitting on the plastic. going outside. >> Yeah, we didn't need the eye mask back then. Right. >> Right there, sir. >> Where? >> On the plastic on the right side. >> Why don't you come on over here on this side so you quit? Uh >> I just don't understand why you would back into somebody's driveway. >> Pulled up there. This is a house. >> So, you either had to drive down there and turn around or you pulled up here. Why is there a >> Cuz they said you were unconscious. That's why they had to come here. They just have to check you. What's the What are the kids' names? >> Well, you know why? Cuz you use I mean, I'm just telling you. I'm looking at your pupils and stuff like that. So that the reason why that's why you're cold, huh? >> Well, but but your eyes are constricted. So that's what happens. And probably >> sir, can you please get her? >> Yeah, where's the Where's the bottle at? >> It should be coming. It's right there beside. >> All right. Well, we're going to let the medics talk to you while he's in there. >> And so you're staying at the Motel 75 right now. So apparently they were unconscious in their car. There's in the car. Her pupils are really constricted and she's cold. So, I don't know if they've been doing something else or what. So, they're going to check them. >> And she's extremely cold and her pupils are pretty constricted, but I take Huh. >> I take all >> Okay. You didn't smoke? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I got her information right here if you need that. vitals. >> Yeah, you you would never find anything in here. >> I've got their information already. I guess we can do a whatever and refer >> refer it to children's services. >> Yeah, I know. I say right here. >> Okay, thank you. >> And just give it to him. >> Yeah, >> he's asleep. I'm not going to bother him. I'm sorry. >> Is it just water? >> It's a Sprite and a fruit punch together. >> How old are these kids? >> It's uh they're 18 months old. >> Okay. Are they not >> caffeine? >> Huh? >> Okay. I was just making sure. >> Yeah. >> So, you both have a medical car. Okay. Just step back there. I don't like you being this close to me while I'm watching him. Going back there by your husband or boyfriend. I can see the kids. They're fine. You're just making me nervous. that back there. >> Well, I don't like people like right up on my up on my space. >> Did you find it? >> Step back here, both of you. Back here all the way down here. Here's what's going to happen. If you keep not listening to me, I want you to go back by the cruiser back here. You two. I'm going to put you both in handcuffs. So, you're in handcuffs. You're going to go in handcuffs. Go back to this car. He's going to search the car. >> So you're you have one too. Then >> as officers examine the vehicle, a crucial element emerges, one that the camera cannot capture. The legal interpretation of the scene. The discovery of and the physical condition of Simpson and Sandlin place the case within a framework in which use is no longer a private issue, but an aggravating factor. when it compromises the safety of the children. From that moment on, the focus will shift to establishing the level of incapacity and its direct impact on the minors. The key question becomes how long both adults were unable to respond and how many minutes the children remained exposed to extreme heat inside of the vehicle. This unrecorded but essential timeline will determine whether the conduct rises to the level of felony child endangering. The arrival of paramedics confirms that the adults were not merely asleep, but incapacitated by use to a degree incompatible with any form of caregiving. For investigators, one critical gap remains. The exact moment the adults cease to be functional caretakers. That detail, absent from the footage, will later form the basis of the most serious charges serious. Is that your thing that you dropped down there? >> Huh? >> Where was that at? Did you like realize you weren't at somebody's Smoke it. >> Do you smoke it? You can't smoke it. >> Yeah. >> No, you're not allowed to smoke it on medical. You have to do a vaporizer. >> Yeah, you're not allowed to smoke it. Did you not know that? They should have told you that. >> Yeah, you you have to do like a vaporizer and like the oils and the tincture. She said she has a prescription for >> Yeah. I have a card for it, too. Also, >> a what? >> A card. Plastic card for it >> for Oh, for the Okay. And where do you get that at? >> Menmart. >> Okay. >> In Lebon. And how long you been using that? >> I've been on the freight two months. >> So other than a little bit of in the pipe, there's nothing else in there. >> How long you've been smoking? >> I didn't know people still did it. >> It was given It was given to me. >> Yeah. Who do you have that can come get >> H? My friend, >> do you have her number? >> Yeah. >> Where's your phone? >> In the car. >> Go get it. I'll grab it. You're both getting charged with children. First of all, I'm going to send off your croc and when it comes back, I'm going to hit you with possession of that. You're getting charged with possession of the pipe cuz it was right next to you. Do you understand? Kids are balling in the back seat. The inside of that van is 1,000°. They're both sweaty and you guys are passed out. Understand that? >> So, yeah, you're getting charged. I don't think he needs a blanket. It's like very hot in here. >> Here you go. >> All right. Back there. >> How many phones did you guys [laughter] drive? I'm not a truck. >> I mean, was it on the seat or somewhere else? >> Okay. I just handed you two phones. All right. We'll walk back there. I'll find it. I don't like you up here again. So, just go back there. Go on back there again to the officer and I'll find it. Where's your cell phone? >> Oh, >> over here. >> All right. >> Where is it? Oh, here it is. All right. Let's walk back here. So, this is yours and this is yours. >> No, mine's still in there. >> All right. We'll go back here and do the phone call, whoever you need to call. >> Yeah. >> I don't know what's going on. Just go back there and do a phone call. I'll keep looking for your phone. >> Where's that bottle head? >> Where's your bottle head? >> What' you do with your receipts? >> I think it fell when you got out. Let me look for it. >> Can you hear? >> This is my last time of telling you to stand back by the car. I'm tired of doing that. The kids are all right. All right, I'll find your phone. That's what I'm looking for. You guys Hi, baby. Hi. Hi. Hi. Somebody's tired. Somebody's tired. Here it is. There you go. There you go. Don't throw it this time. Don't throw it. In this phase, officers have to determine whether there was poly substance abuse since combining accelerates the loss of consciousness and worsens the situation when children are present. Under Ohio law, induced incapacity that creates a substantial risk of serious physical harm can elevate neglect to a felony offense. Evaluating the children becomes central. In Ohio, heat exposure cases are assessed by considering the projected internal temperature rise inside of a closed vehicle, which can exceed the outside temperature by 20 to 30° in under an hour. Noting that the children felt extremely hot, indicates a risk of rapid hypothermia, a condition capable of causing organ damage within minutes. At the same time, the inspection of the vehicle looks beyond evidence collection. Officers must determine whether the conditions inside, the accumulated trash, food remnants, humidity, reflect ongoing neg rather than a one-time lapse. For children's services, that distinction determines whether the incident can be treated as an isolated failure or if it requires immediate intervention and long-term oversight. Ah, >> charger. >> Is that it? >> Yeah. >> We have somebody on the way. >> Are you Who you talking to? >> Okay. >> It's looking that way. I guess we both >> I mean, when's the last time the diapers been changed on them? I mean, the >> They need >> I mean, the one was It's awful. The one >> I mean, I can change. >> No, I mean, I know how to change diapers. >> Is that your wallet? And who's is that on top? >> Okay. He's changing the diapers now. Which of the phones that you need? Don't I didn't ask you to get out. >> Yeah, sure. I'm getting off my phone. >> Which is the phones? I >> I need this top one right here. >> This one here. >> That one. And and and the bottom. >> These two. All right. We're changing the diapers right now. Wait on your dad. Hold on. Uh let me get some. I thought I saw some somewhere. Um, so I think I think she put something when she was reaching around back here. I think she might have put something. I tried to look around. Here you go. But I mean, we would never find from the communication center. This is only a test relay by the communication center at >> Do they both need to be changed? for sure. >> Yeah, that one was over here. That one was the really bad one. >> We probably need to have them run him, the father, if he's coming to get the kids just to make sure that he's not had any cuz we're going to turn him the kids over to him. Correct. [crying] >> So, just to make sure he doesn't have anything on on him like no like charges or anything. [crying and screaming] 71 >> if you would. Uh the registered owner, the father, >> can you just run a CCH on him and make sure there's not anything to prevent him from taking charge of the kids? Um, so we got a call that they were um Well, that's good if there's two of you. Are you both have driver's license? >> She She ain't That's my >> Yeah, we got a >> Hey, Caleb, we got a call about that because I'm running him. What was that call we had earlier? There was a call cuz I ran your plate earlier about something. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I think so. Or in this van here. >> Oh, >> 71. >> Go ahead. >> The plate that we gave you, did we have a call or something on that earlier? I I just remember running that plate or saying that. So, um, >> check. >> They were passed out here. Of course, they're under the influence. There's a car in a pipe. The car was freaking hot as can be in those little babies there in there. The um It hasn't been There hasn't um been changed in a while, the BA diapers. So, he's changing the diapers right now. They're probably going to be going to jail. That's why we wanted you to take charge of the kids. Yeah. >> So, >> can we pull the van somewhere where the units won't tow it where I can get it? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, um, you don't have a driver's license. Okay. Yeah, we can't. Um, yeah, we we'll work on that. >> Another road around here that I park this one and I'll just take that one. >> Yeah, we can do that. Um, let me think here. What's >> Come back and get this one. Yeah, because this has already got the child seats and everything in there. >> Um, >> 871, it does show that you ran that plate on 55, but no history of a ticket or anything. >> Okay. I must I ran this plate for something and it came back to you and I don't remember why now. They probably were out somewhere or doing something. They might have been at the Were they staying at the Motel 75? >> Okay, maybe that's the reason why. Yeah, they they they stay there. >> At this stage, the focus shifts from Simpson and Sadland to another critical step, determining whether the family member who will take custody of the children meets the state's criteria for suitability. For children's services, placement decisions hinge not on blood relation alone, but on history, emotional stability, and the absence of substance use. Evaluating the grandfather is not a formality. It's essential to prevent the children from being moved from one unsafe environment to another. While waiting for him to arrive, officers work to reconstruct the care network surrounding the children, who supervises them regularly, whether there's consistent family support, and whether the negine that day may be part of a wider pattern. That information is crucial for deciding whether this was a single relapse or a structural issue requiring sustained intervention. When the grandfather arrives, officers analyze not only what he says, but how he reacts under pressure, his grasp of the situation's seriousness and his willingness to undergo screening if needed. These signals determine whether the transfer can be made safely, or whether children's services must impose immediate oversight. >> Okay. Um I was trying to think if you want to like try to go I don't think there's no businesses down here. and walk back >> and then just come back down here. Yeah, I'd probably go that way and then just park off on the road somewhere and then walk back. >> Okay. >> Yeah, he's changing them now. So, yeah, you're good. >> He's going to go park their car down there somewhere and then walk back and just take them in this with the with the child seat. >> But I ran this plate because when he showed up, I thought, why do I recognize his face? So, it looks familiar, >> but I don't remember why I ran the plate earlier tonight and I don't know the reason why. Um, so he's going to go park that and then um I just saw that there. He's going to go park and then walk up and then they'll just take the whole vehicle. So, I guess that's their tracks where they turned around. See? See the tracks? >> One set of tracks be >> they might have. I mean, but there's only one set. So, they must have backed down in there. I don't know what I don't know. I I was trying to see where they circled around because I don't see it. You see what I'm coming up? >> Okay, I'll wait for him to come back. Soon as he gets back, they can they can go ahead and take the kids. >> Question. It's been forever since I've charged injuring children. Does that go through juvenile? >> Yes, >> that's what I thought. >> Yeah. So, we should have >> Okay. We should >> his charge will just be for right now children. She's going to get hit with Python. >> Yeah, possession of paraphernalia. Yeah, which I can just do that on area 2 summons >> for that. But then yeah, we'll do the um there should be complaint forms for that. >> Can you select on the booking software juvenile court? >> You should be able to. I assume you can. I've never I've Yeah, I've never done one here with this uh with this police department, but we had we had complaint forms through juvenile court of each of those charges. >> So, I don't know if if they have >> it. 71. Go ahead. So, you apparently have a child in former charge. How long ago was that? >> Years ago. >> How long do you know how long ago? >> Were you like drunk and had a kid in a car or something? >> Seizure and hit a boat. >> Oh, okay. And there was a kid in a car. Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's what it was. >> All right. >> I got out. That's >> Do you have any like prior child convictions or anything? >> No warrants or anything? No. >> Do All right. So, cuz we just have to make sure that >> just because what's your social security number, hun? >> So, was they back there? >> No, they were actually right here. I don't know how they what was going on back there cuz it looks like they backed up and then maybe pulled back out cuz there's some tracks here and then they backed here but then like I said they were just passed out. It took them a while to >> it took a while to arouse them and then um like I said with the crack and stuff I mean we're responsible and the conditions and stuff like that. I don't think they have any prior children services cases or anything. So, what they'll do the first time, they'll probably just order some type of parenting and probably do drug testing on both of them. I mean, she's on, he's on, but you can't be doing >> No. Hell no. I'm >> I didn't even know people were still doing I tell you what, I would give you a quarter for a van load. >> I mean, it's expensive, too. I didn't even know anybody had anymore. nothing since that that >> was my baby. >> Oh, okay. >> He had a seizure in the floor. >> Yeah, but then that you must have had in your system or something. >> No, I that's the only thing I know. >> Why would they have charged you though? They normally don't charge it. >> Yeah, but if you have a seizure medical, they wouldn't charge it. They >> unless Did you get charged with OVI or anything? DUI? >> No. >> Oh, that we could have thought of was because it was in a um truck. >> Yeah. >> And >> Oh, no. child seat. >> Well, no, he was in a booster seat. >> Oh, interesting. >> They said that he was too small for the booster seat. >> Okay. So, that's probably the reason why. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> She'll go on those. They usually get said it'll be she's going to go through juvenile court. So, it'll be she'll go to court and then they'll set it at juvenile court. She just need to get her whole Butler County Juvenile Court cuz I don't know what it would be because the usually they don't they'll set it when she goes to court in the morning cuz she'll probably go to court in the morning. So just call up there and find out. Just call the Butler County Jail. They'll have it cuz we don't set bonds. They're the ones that set bond. >> I'll give them time to book her in and then I'll >> It'll Yeah, it'll take us about It won't take us that long. Like an hour. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, is the the driver >> of the kids? Yeah. Okay. >> She she needs to get rid of that piece of [ __ ] >> Well, I know. >> Well, she was she they were both I mean, her pupils are constricted, so I'm hoping she wasn't doing more than the because her pupils are real tiny and usually doesn't make their pupils really constricted. So, I'm hoping she didn't do She's got to get a bond set before I can even think about putting her out. >> I know. >> Yeah. I mean, she don't know that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, they might give her cuz sometimes Butler County, they'll give you a bond before you go to court, but it's like outrageous. >> Yeah. >> And then when you go to court there, god damn sure got no money like that. >> All right. So get him seat belted in and you guys are good to go. >> With the onseen intervention complete, the case moves into its most decisive phase, the judicial process. For Simpson, the path becomes more severe from the outset. The possession of co his role as the driver and the extreme risk posed to the children lead the prosecutor to send his case to the grand jury. a step reserved for situations with evidence of potential felony conduct. From there, his case enters a common plea system where charges of felony child possession carry potential sentences ranging from several months to multiple years in prison. Sandlin's trajectory is marketkedly different. Although she is central to the case as the children's mother, her charges remained misdemeanors for more than three years, signaling that the court prioritized treatment and monitoring. The dismissal of her charges in 2025 would suggest a process shaped by therapeutic intervention and compliance with court-ordered conditions, a path commonly used in Ohio when addiction is a significant factor and the defendant cooperates. What remains most notable is what does not appear in the public record. the outcome of any possible felony charges tied to the extreme risk to the children. Between sealed proceedings and the protections typical in cases involving minors, the final resolution is unknown. What this case does make clear though is that in Ohio, the line between relapse and felony conduct is defined not merely by the substance involved, but by the harm and potential harm imposed on those entirely dependent on the adults responsible for them.