On August 4, 2025, after consulting with the Gaston County District Attorney's Office, police arrested the parents, charging them with multiple offenses.

In Bessemer City, North Carolina, Kayla Wilhelm, 29, and Bobby McKinney, 33, were arrested after their eight-month-old infant overdosed and stopped breathing on July 27, 2025.

Emergency responders found the infant unconscious at their home on Rural Retreat Road, providing immediate treatment before transporting the child to CaroMont Regional Hospital, where the baby is now recovering.

Following the overdose incident, Gaston County Police and the Department of Social Services launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's condition.

This incident highlights a troubling trend in Gaston County, where a significant percentage of children in foster care—71.7% of 387 children in 2024—were placed there due to parental substance abuse.

Gaston County has one of the highest overdose death rates in North Carolina, recording 50.6 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2024, which resulted in a total of 120 overdose deaths.

The charges against Wilhelm and McKinney include felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury, two counts of felony possession with intent to manufacture or sell a Schedule II controlled substance, misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and felony maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances.

Currently, both parents are being held without bond at the Gaston County Jail as the investigation continues.

Authorities are seeking additional information about the incident and encourage anyone with details to contact Detective J. Henderson or CrimeStoppers.