(GRAND BAY, Ala.) A meth lab bust in Grand Bay lands Terry Mize and his girlfriend, Rachel Cutchen, in jail.
"Last night our Special Operations Units and our Narcotics Units were out responding to anonymous crime tips we've received through our website," said Joe Mahoney, Investigator with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies found Mize and Cutchen with methamphetamine, a firearm and Cutchen's 10-year-old child inside their home on Roy Miller Road.
"Anytime there's a child involved it's disturbing. But especially in this case because this child was a special needs child. She has leukemia, one leg and breathing problems. So this child was subjected to this environment. They're cooking meth inside the house which lets off toxic fumes. And they had kicked the little girl out of her own bedroom and made her sleep in the living room, so the meth cookers could use her room," said Mahoney.
"That's horrible. Drugs are horrible. And when children are involved it just spoils their life. They need a chance and they're not getting it when drugs are in their family," said Roland Harper, who also lives on Roy Miller Road.
Investigators also arrested Philip Aquino at the home for possession of marijuana.
And they're looking for Nicholas Kofonis. Investigators believe he was also cooking meth at Mize's home.
Mize and Cutchen are charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, chemical child endangerment and trafficking methamphetamine.
The child is now with her grandmother. The case will be turned over to the Department of Human Resources.
