A man from Northumberland, Pennsylvania has been charged with child endangerment as a nine-year-old boy was found dead at his home due to drug overdose on Monday, police officials report.

The man identified as Victor W. Hare III has been arrested and charged by the Point Township Police officials. Hare was allegedly aware that the boy used the prescription drug called "oxycodone", a narcotic analgesic generally indicated for relief of moderate to severe pain, and alcohol in the past. However, he still let the boy stay in his home with the said substances readily present.

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Hare told the officials that the nine-year-old had a drug and alcohol problem as the boy notified him that he used pills, marijuana, and alcohol--information the child repeatedly asserted for the past couple of weeks.

Hare is said to be a family friend and the boy stayed in his place overnight. He is being taken care of by their mother, who was not identified, and was staying in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The mother dropped the boy at Hare's home the night before and that the two were supposed to ride a dune buggy together.

Authorities were called to the home of Hare, located 60 miles north of Harrisburg, as they received reports that a boy suffered from cardiac arrest. According to the boy's stepbrother, the boy was already unresponsive and he urged Hare to already call 911 immediately. However, Hare said that they should wait.

Officials said that during the call, it was not very clear what they were calling about as the caller only said that a boy took "oxy" and was talking about the substance the whole time.

The officials who responded to the said call found the child with blood around his mouth and nose, as well as noted vomit on the man's bed.

According to Hare, he performed CPR on the boy for more than 40 minutes before rushing him to a hospital. However, upon arrival, the boy was pronounced dead.

Hare is now in custody of the police and refused to have a lawyer to represent him. He is being held in jail under US$290,000 bail. Aside from the child endangerment charge, he was also charged with illegal possession of firearm by a felon as he has records of multiple felony convictions in the past, such as burglary and escape. 

TagsPennsylvania, drug overdose, child endangerment, 9-year-old, oxycodone, alcohol, Victor Hare