A local mother has been charged with a disturbing crime. Authorities say she gave her son crack that he could sell... in order to buy himself a new school wardrobe.
Andrea Griddle of Frankford is facing child endangerment and narcotics charges. She's expected to be arraigned later Friday evening after police say she turned her son into a drug dealer.
Police say the 15-year-old boy was afraid he'd go to jail, so he turned to his second cousin Janice Jackson-Burke.
Janice Jackson-Burke\Relative: "He says to me, my mom has me out here selling drugs so I can get school supplies."
At first, Jackson-Burke didn't believe it. She says 34-year-old Andrea Griddle has often failed at being a good mom, but allegedly turning her son into a drug dealer blew her away.
Jackson-Burke: "I laughed until he pulled out a potato chip bag of some sort on my counter and there are 20 bags of cocaine."
After several days of contemplating, Jackson-Burke and the boy went to police. We talked with the 15-year-old's brother outside the family's home. He says he doesn't believe his brother's story and says his mother is innocent.
Police don't think the boy's making it up.
The 15-year-old is a sophomore at Frankford High School. Students and parents there are stunned.
Malaysia Turner/student: "Makes me wonder how someone could do something like that."
Angel Hill\Frankford: "Makes me sick. Yes, it makes me sick. She has no business giving her kid nothing like that."
Youth and Human Services evaluated the teen, but released him to Janice Jackson-Burke who says she'll now care for him.
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