Dad Drugged Kids With Sedatives in Smoothies

Michael Meyden, a 58-year-old father from Lake Oswego, Oregon, admitted to drugging his daughter and two of her friends by lacing their smoothies with Temazepam, a prescription sedative. He "insisted" the girls drink the concoction during a sleepover. One girl, who did not consume the spiked smoothie, became increasingly alarmed and texted her mother around 2 a.m. requesting an urgent pickup due to not feeling safe.

Following the concerned child's pleas, a family friend retrieved the girls. The two who ingested the smoothies tested positive for benzodiazepine and reported feeling "woozy" and experiencing a "thick, deep sleep." One victim later testified in court about the severe emotional distress caused by Meyden's actions, calling him a "monster."

In June 2024, Meyden was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to three felony counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance. A civil lawsuit filed by one victim's father seeking $2.4 million was recently settled, with the monetary details undisclosed.