Meth possession with children in home alleged
Two adults have been charged with child endangerment in connection with the death of three children during a fire in Kansas City’s northland in July 2021. David Hardy, 37, of Belton, was charged with felony child endangerment for possessing methamphetamine with children in his home. Elizabeth Kennison, 39, of Parkville, was charged with misdemeanor child endangerment for leaving the children with Hardy, knowing that he possessed methamphetamine.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “This is a terribly tragic case where three children are dead as a result of a house fire. We do not believe either of these people set that fire, and they certainly didn’t want these children to die. However, we allege known and ongoing meth use endangered these children.”
According to court documents, at about 11:00 a.m. on July 14, 2021, a house fire on North Avalon Street in Kansas City resulted in the deaths of three children. The Kansas City Police Department has earlier identified those victims as Maxwell Hardy, age 3, Achilles Hardy, age 4, and Chace Freeman, age 10.
David Hardy was at the home at the time of the fire; Kennison was not. David Hardy was the father of Maxwell Hardy and Achilles Hardy; Kennison was the mother of Chace Freeman.
Investigators with the Kansas City Police Department Bomb and Arson Squad obtained a search warrant to search the residence after the fire. Court documents indicate they found drug paraphernalia and a bag containing a substance that tested positive for meth in the home.
A child forensic interviewer with Synergy Services interviewed a child who survived the fire. According to court documents, that child said she saw Hardy using drugs, and he would fall asleep while supervising the three- and four-year-old children.
Court documents allege another witness told police that Kennison had admitted using meth and knowing that Hardy used meth while children were present in the home.
Hardy is charged with three counts of felony child endangerment. He was arrested on October 7, 2022 and is currently being held on a $100,000.00 cash only bond. Kennison is charged with three counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. She is scheduled to appear in court on October 25, 2022 at 1:30 pm.
The case is being investigated by the Kansas City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Myles Perry.
The charges against Hardy and Kennsion are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.