Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Drug-Addicted Zanesville Mother Sentenced to Prison
A Zanesville woman who gave birth to a child addicted to drugs received prison time for multiple counts of drug crimes and child endangering.
Kayleigh B. Knox, age 37, of Zanesville, appeared for sentencing in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court on March 11. Judge Mark C. Fleegle sentenced Knox to one year in prison.
On January 24, 2024, Knox plead guilty to endangering children, two counts of possession of drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia from a December 2022 incident in which Zanesville Police officers came to the aid of an eleven-year-old child whose life had been placed in jeopardy by Kayleigh Knox’s drug addiction.
She also plead guilty to possession of drugs from another case in 2023, in which she was caught using drugs in a supermarket parking lot. Knox, pregnant at the time, was released on bond after that offense, which she violated by failing to show up for her drug test.
Knox was later arrested after giving birth on January 1, 2024, in Franklin County. The child was born addicted to drugs and was immediately placed in the neonatal intensive care unit at a Columbus hospital. The child is currently in the care of Muskingum County Children’s Services and is being cared for at the expense of taxpayers.
Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch says the harms of drug use in our community extend farther than many people may realize.
“Drugs have a greater impact in our community than most people realize,” Prosecutor Welch said. “It’s not just the addicts who suffer and are put at risk. Children become casualties of drug use due to lack of parenting, poor parenting, acceptance of drug abuse, and exposure to the drugs themselves, even while still in the womb.”
Prosecutor Welch says his office will always fight to protect children, but the Ohio General Assembly should do their part in the war against drug abuse.
“This is a constant battle, but one our office will never give up fighting,” Prosecutor Welch said. “We hope the state legislature can adopt a law to address these issues tougher, so we can provide more protection for children, but there seems to be little desire for them to act to fix this problem.”
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