A Gassville woman has been arrested on charges of exposing her baby to methamphetamine after the child tested positive for the drug. Lynsie Danielle Wright, 40, was taken into custody Monday afternoon and charged with a Class Y felony for introducing a controlled substance into the body of another person, which carries a sentencing range of 10 to 40 years or life in prison under Arkansas law.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office stated in a probable cause affidavit that the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) alerted them in early August to allegations of neglect, insufficient supervision, and drug activity at Wright’s residence. DHS alleged that Wright used methamphetamine, kept drugs in plain view within the home she shared with her infant son, and engaged in drug sales. The referral also noted that the home was in poor condition, and the infant had a significant diaper rash with blisters.
When interviewed, Wright denied using drugs, but she failed a drug screening. As a result, her infant son was removed from the home and placed in DHS custody. Shortly after losing custody, investigators say Wright attempted to cancel the child’s upcoming medical appointments at Arkansas Children’s Hospital but was barred from doing so.
On August 21, the infant underwent hair follicle testing at the hospital’s Team for Children at Risk in Little Rock. The test results, received by DHS on September 4, confirmed the presence of both amphetamines and methamphetamine. Investigators noted that the levels of methamphetamine found in the child’s system were 60 times above the threshold for a positive result.
This was not the first instance of methamphetamine exposure for the infant. According to authorities, the baby tested positive for the drug at birth. Wright, at that time, was found to be using methamphetamine, amphetamines, and ecstasy. After spending three months in a neonatal intensive care unit, the child was discharged into Wright’s custody. Wright underwent and passed drug screenings before DHS returned the infant to her care.
Wright is currently being held at the Baxter County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.
**Prior Arrest**
Court records show that Wright was previously arrested in May 2022 on felony charges of theft by receiving and tampering with physical evidence. She was apprehended at a car wash in Cotter, where investigators say she attempted to dispose of stolen items. Those items were allegedly taken from vehicles that had been broken into earlier that day by Wright’s girlfriend. The case remains pending in the judicial system.